Origin
Solola Department, Santa Bárbara, Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Guatemala's coffee history began when Jesuit missionaries introduced coffee to their monasteries in Antigua in the mid-1700s. By the 1860s, coffee had replaced indigo as the country's primary export, and by 1900 Guatemala was exporting over 300 million pounds annually. Anacafé has defined eight recognised growing regions, of which Atitlán – surrounding Lake Atitlán and its three associated volcanoes – is known for full body, vibrant acidity, rich floral aromatics, and complex spice notes. This profile is shaped by the lake's unique microclimate, volcanic soils, and high altitude, as well as the cultural depth of predominantly Indigenous Maya smallholder farming communities who cultivate the vast majority of coffee in the region.