Today is the first roast of the Guatemala Maya Ixil here at the Oakland roastery. This delicious coffee will be available at our west coast locations this weekend. Read on for details about Shaw’s visit to this beautiful cooperative in Guatemala. Slideshow included!
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From The Journal of the Green Bean Buyer:
While on my travels this year in Guatemala, I visited Cooperative Maya Ixil located in the tropical Ixcan region in the department of Quiche. The Ixil Community has remained mostly isolated from the rest of the world, up in the Cuchumatanes Mountains. The men are farmers and most of the women are weavers, crafting some of the most beautiful textiles I have seen. I was able to spend the day with Andres the General Manager and other members of the cooperative, learning about the co-op, visiting a member’s farm, cupping coffee, and sharing a meal.
Cooperative Maya Ixil produces a much different coffee than our most recent Guatemalan offering from La Voz Cooperative. One reason is due to processing. While La Voz members bring cherry to the co-op’s wet mill to be processed collectively, Maya Ixil coffee is produced by small-holder farmers who individually process their coffee down to parchment. This offering from Cooperative Maya Ixil shines with apple blossom and lemongrass aromatics and notes of brown sugar, honey, and chocolate. Enjoy!
Check out this slide show from my trip!
Shaw Sturton, Green Bean Buyer BBCC
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