Guatemalan Coffee History

In 1760, Jesuit Priests introduced a coffee plant in Antigua, Guatemala with the purpose of using it as an ornament for their gardens. Forty years later, Don Juan Rubio y Gemir cultivated the first plants of coffee in the outskirts of the city. Since that year, all the coffee plantations were supported by the 'Real Order' (Spain).

Guatemala signed their Independence in September 1821.

The new government in charge wanted to increase the productivity potential of all the fields. They established agreements to support the coffee plantations like 'Decreto 1ro. de octubre' (October 1st, decree), it said that 'We will give two hundred pesos to the first farmer who produces 10,000 pounds of coffee, one hundred pesos to the second, third and fourth Farmer'. Since 1871, the coffee business became the number one export for Guatemala's economy.

Guatemala is part of a highly mountainous region ideal for coffee crops in Central America. The mountains are further blessed by frequent rainfall and plenty of sunshine. The many volcanoes add additional nitrogen to the already rich soil. There are five coffee growing regions in Guatemala: Antigua, Atitlan, Coban, Fraijanes and Huehuetenango. These regions with their temperate weather and fields of rich soil have the perfect conditions for the world's best coffee plantations.

Guatemalan coffee is grown at an altitude ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level. Most of the best coffee plantations are located on mountain slopes. The reason Guatemalan coffee is of such high quality is due to the fact that "the finest coffee comes from highest altitudes".

Guatemalan Coffee is known for its tradition of receiving the highest awards among the world's best coffees.

Submitted by Luis Fernando del Pinal… TimeForCoffee Website