Best suited for: Filter Coffee (Black), Espresso Beverages (Black or White)
Flavour Description: Stewed Strawberries, Blackberry Syrup, Molasses
Producer: Juan Diego La Cerda
Farm: El Socorro
Origin: Palencia, Guatemala
Variety: Maracaturra
Process: Washed
About This Coffee:
It might come as a surprise to some that we have chosen a washed coffee to feature in our Wild & Complex range, but upon our initial tasting, this coffee yielded so much complexity, we knew instantly that it had to be included as part of the range!
To win the cup of excellence even once is the pinnacle of achievement for any given farm. Finca El Socorro have won the Guatemala cup of excellence a number of times: In 2007, 2011 (Where the winning lot was their Maracaturra), 2020 and 2023, in addition to having excellent finishing positions in other years.
El Socorro farm, located in Palencia, Guatemala, was originally part of Hacienda San Guayaba, owned by Antonio López Colom in 1905. After passing through various owners, it returned to the family in 1968 when Dr. Mario de la Cerda and his wife Maria Colom bought it. In 1980, their son Juan de la Cerda Colom began cultivating coffee, marking the fourth generation of family ownership. Today, Juan and his son Juan Diego are renowned for producing some of the best coffee in Guatemala, thanks to their strict quality control throughout the entire production process.
The farm features an eco-friendly wet mill that depulps coffee cherries dry and recycles the water used in the process. This water is then treated using clean production techniques before being released back into the forest. Juan Diego, who also owns two other farms, is experimenting with a variety of coffee types, including Java, Red and Yellow Bourbon, Yellow Caturra, Maracaturra, Pacamara, Purpuracea, and Geisha. The Maracaturra variety, a cross of Maragogype and Caturra from Nicaragua, was initially introduced in Guatemala as an experiment against leaf rust.
Finca El Socorro dedicates 60% of its land to natural forests, with only 25% used for coffee cultivation. The rest of the land is used for cows and flower plantations. The coffee trees are natural shade trees that have existed on the farm for years, and each parcel is clearly labeled with detailed information about age, varieties, and size.
Photo content kindly provided by Javier, Caribbean goods
