Our June coffee of the month is a washed coffee from the ASOPCE cooperative in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. We've worked with this cooperative for many years and are thrilled to feature one of their lots this month. We roast it medium-dark to highlight the low acidity and clean, balanced character that Guatemalan coffees are known for.

The cup starts with sweet notes of chocolate wafer cookie. In the middle, roasted cashew notes add a darker, nuttier richness. In the finish, pleasant fruitiness of ripe black plum lingers alongside light chocolate notes, rounding out into a smooth chocolate milk finish. The medium body and low acidity make this a great all-day cup of coffee.

Roast Color: Medium-Dark

Cupping Notes: Chocolate Wafer Cookie, Plum, Roasted Cashew

About the coffee of the month: We feature a new coffee every month. This allows us to explore more of the world of coffee outside of our normal offerings. It is available this month only, while supplies last. 

Story: There are plenty of obstacles to cultivating and exporting coffee from the department of Huehuetenango. The terrain is rugged, and the weather is extreme. But coffee grows well there, and more than 450 families with farms that average just a few acres in size work together through a cooperative called the Association of Special Coffee Producers of Huehuetenango (ASOPCE) to overcome the obstacles.

Each family uses their own micro-mill to process their harvest, which allows for meticulous care in cherry selection, depulping, fermenting, and drying the coffee. ASOPCE has a centralized warehouse to store dried parchment until it is time to move the coffee across the country along rough roads to Guatemala City where the coffee is prepared for export. Through ASOPCE, producers have gained access to technical assistance for managing their farms with the best agricultural practices. Using materials like coffee pulp to make organic fertilizers has helped reduce the transportation costs associated with purchasing fertilizer from afar, and at the same time, creates an abundant source of fertilizer that ensures better yields and quality.