GUATEMALA - HUNBATZ - WASHED

Taking its name from Mayan mythology, Hunbatz hails from the Cuilco region of Huehuetenango, a much loved coffee growing community in Guatemala .

The coffee itself is a washed process and boasts easy drinking flavours that keeps you coming back for more! Expect layers of golden caster sugar caramel notes developing into juicy stone fruit undertones.

The Story behind the brew:

The coffee is grown by a collection of small coffee producers working the northwestern highlands, who are the heart and soul of Hunbatz coffee, where most households run their own mini wet mill.

These artisans cultivate their coffee with care, drawing from centuries-old traditions passed down through generations.

For every 30 kg bag of Hunbatz coffee sold, a tree is planted on behalf of the purchasing roaster, reinforcing a deep connection between the land and those who enjoy its bounty.

Water is abundant in these mountains, and processing tends to follow a clear rhythm: the men harvest and bring cherries home, the women manage the washing. Cherries are depulped and fermented in buckets or tanks of water, then run through small channels to strip away the mucilage and honey. Drying happens on rooftops and patios, and once bagged, the coffee is stored inside the home - families sleeping alongside their harvest, effectively guarding it until it's ready to go.

These producers belong to a federation of smallholders, and this is where Hunbatz really gets its identity: it's importer, Caribbean Goods', selection of the best lots the region has to offer. Each delivery is cupped by a Q Grader at the local warehouse, checking first for quality and defects. Anything that stands out as especially juicy, clean or interesting gets flagged up to a second Q Grader at the central office for confirmation, and those lots are what Caribbean Goods gets to choose from. Because the federation is owned by its smallholder members, it doesn't matter whose lot ends up in the bag - the value stays inside the same producer network.