This was a quick trip with a lot of cupping in Guatemala City of new crop lots, at various exporters offices.
GuatemalaGuatemalan coffee is considered a top quality coffee producer in Central America. Due to our proximity to Guatemala, some of the nicest coffees from this origin come to... ...more February 2008 – This isn’t that exciting. It’s a little weird in fact. I made some notes in my little booklet to introduce a travelogue. I called Guatemala “scarey”, but that wasn’t because I am a gringo: It’s because all the guns here. It’s because as soon as you leave the tourist trail, things can get a little sketchy. At least at this point in time.
But there are some cool images here too and we spent time at farms in Acatenango, Antigua, San Jose Pinula and Fraijanes.
I was with Ian Kluse from Volcafe, and for some time Darren Daniel of Allegro. Alan Nietlisbach was there for a while, but I swore it was actually Agent Cooper. (I am sure I am not the first person to confuse him with the FBI agent from Twin Peaks).
I didn’t spend a lot of time on captions and all that Plus there are repeat images, and like 20 or so when the Volcan Fuego decided to puff out some steam, since I was so surprised. Okay, here’s another lengthy photo travelogue…. Thompson , 2008
Photos Part One, Fraijanes Coffee Farms, and Antigua Finca Retana
la mina estate, fraijanes – Guatemala 
las minas estate, fraijanes – Guatemala lowriders of guatemala city – Guatemala la mina estate, fraijanes – Guatemala la mina estate, fraijanes – Guatemala la mina estate, fraijanes – Guatemala las minas estate, fraijanes – Guatemala la mina estate, fraijanes – Guatemala la mina estate, fraijanes -catuai – Guatemala la mina estate, fraijanes – catuai – Guatemala la mina estate, fraijanes – Guatemala la mina estate, fraijanes – Guatemala la mina estate, fraijanes – Guatemala la mina estate, fraijanes – Guatemala la mina estate, fraijanes – view of city – Guatemala la mina estate, fraijanes – Guatemala la mina estate, fraijanes – Guatemala tessa, la mina estate, fraijanes – Guatemala amatitlan lake – Guatemala la mina estate, fraijanes – Guatemala Finca Catuai, Fraijanes Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Catuai, Fraijanes Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Catuai, Fraijanes Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Catuai, Fraijanes Guatemala – Ian Kluse and Darren Daniels Guatemala Finca Catuai, Fraijanes Guatemala – Alan Neitelsbach Guatemala Finca Catuai, Fraijanes Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Catuai, Fraijanes Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Catuai, Fraijanes Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Catuai, Fraijanes Guatemala – Hand sorting in Fraijanes. It’s the young, the old, the unmarried … where’s the glamour in this? Note that this is ideal hand sorting though … single stations, not moving conveyors. This is the La Minita method. One person usually does less than 1 bag per day, in some places, around 30 Kg per day. Guatemala Finca Catuai, Fraijanes Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Catuai, Fraijanes Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Catuai, Fraijanes Guatemala – Another photo of hand sorting with the very young girl in the mix too. Kinda sad … Guatemala Bayer Coffee Disease Chart – Guatemala Bayer Coffee Disease Chart – Guatemala Bayer Coffee Disease Chart – Guatemala Bayer Coffee Disease Chart – Guatemala Bayer Coffee Disease Chart – Guatemala BiCafe Lab, Guatemala City – Examining coffee under blacklight … what you CAN’T see under normal optical scanning and hand-sorting. This clearly shows fermented coffee (light marks). Guatemala Finca Catuai, Fraijanes Guatemala – Guatemala BiCafe Lab, Guatemala City – Illy cupping spoon Guatemala BiCafe Lab, Guatemala City – Guatemala BiCafe Lab, Guatemala City – Los Defectos Guatemala BiCafe Lab, Guatemala City – Sample Huller Guatemala BiCafe Lab, Guatemala City – Ian Kluse, Volcafe Guatemala BiCafe Lab, Guatemala City – Blacklight box Guatemala BiCafe Mill, Guatemala City – Ian Kluse Guatemala BiCafe Lab, Guatemala City – Darren, Allegro Guatemala BiCafe Mill, Guatemala City – Guatemala Can I Take Your Picture? – Guatemala I’m Big in Guatemala – Guatemala Coffee Tokens from Guatemala – Guatemala Cafcom Coffee Lab, Guatemala – Guatemala Cafcom Coffee Lab, Guatemala – Guatemala Estuardo, Cafcom Coffee Lab, Guatemala – Guatemala Cafcom Coffee Lab, Guatemala – Guatemala Cafcom, Guatemala – That damn soccer ball, again! Guatemala Cafcom Coffee Lab, Guatemala – The monitor over the cupping table is an instant feed of the New York C Market. Guatemala Cafcom, Guatemala – Japanese Brands Guatemala Decor at the Gourmet Market – I wasn’t sure what to make of this… Guatemala Decor at the Gourmet Market – I wasn’t sure what to make of this… Guatemala Unitrade, &Cafe Lab, Guatemala – Guatemala Unitrade, &Cafe Lab, Guatemala – Guatemala Unitrade, &Cafe Lab, Guatemala – Wood vent hood over the sample roaster Guatemala Unitrade, &Cafe Lab, Guatemala – Natural Guatemala coffee Guatemala Unitrade, &Cafe Lab, Guatemala – Guatemala Waelti-Schoenfeld Lab, Guatemala – Guatemala Unitrade, &Cafe Lab, Guatemala – Our favorite coffee is saved for internal consumption, a great Atitlan coffee. Guatemala Waelti Lab, Guatemala – Maximon in Paul’s Office Guatemala Waelti Lab, Guatemala – Grading coffee Guatemala Waelti Lab, Guatemala – Sample huller Guatemala Waelti Lab, Guatemala – Roasting on vontage Jabez Burns roasters Guatemala Waelti Lab, Guatemala – Vintage Jabez Burns Guatemala Waelti Lab, Guatemala – Vintage Mahlkonig Guatemala Waelti Lab, Guatemala – Sexygirl coffee calender (?) Guatemala Waelti Lab, Guatemala – Guatemala Waelti Lab, Guatemala – Ian, Volcafe Specialty Guatemala Velti Lab, Guatemala – Darren, Allegro Guatemala Waelti Lab, Guatemala – Coffee Library of samples Guatemala Waelti Lab, Guatemala – Ian, Darren Guatemala Waelti Lab, Guatemala – Paul Stauder Guatemala Waelti Lab, Guatemala – Guatemala 
Lunch with Roberto Sanchez, San Jose Ocana – Guatemala Lunch with the Lawyer – … who also owns San Jose Ocana, Roberto Sanchez Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Yellow Bourbon Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Yellow Bourbon Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Tom inspects the incoming harvest of Yellow Bourbon. It’s hard to determine exact ripeness on yellow cultivars. Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Tom inspects Yellow Bourbon Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Luis “Huichol”, administrator of Retana Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Traceablity of Yellow Bourbon lots Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Soaking channel (not washing channel) Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Vivero, Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Vivero, Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Vivero, Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Vivero, Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Vivero, Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Farmhouse, Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Yellow Bourbon Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – crazy pallet wood cart Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala IMG_2426.JPG – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Yellow and Red, Ebony and Ivory, Leather and Lace Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala Finca Retana, Antigua Guatemala – Yellow Bourbon – notice the clumping habit and distinct internodes along the branches. Guatemala
Coffee Processing Mill Los Pastores, Near Antigua, and Acatenango
Waelti Schoenfeld, Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Incoming coffee cherry reception at Los Pastores. Guatemala Eduardo at Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Eduardo, Jefe Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – The nursery Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Nursery (Vivero) Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Specialized hand-sorting “desks” where the women (it’s always women) can push good coffee through an opening, which falls into a jute bag below. Black beans and other visual defects can be pushed into a separate slot. Guatemala What to remove! Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Instructions to the workers indicating what they should be removing while hand-sorting coffee. Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Eduardo’s Orchids – Guatemala Eduardo’s Orchids – Guatemala Eduardo’s Favorite Orchid Chemical – Guatemala Eduardo’s Office – Guatemala Lots at Los Pastores – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Eduardo’s Motos – Zundaps and BMWs – Guatemala Los Pastores Mill, Antigua – Guatemala Eduardo’s Motos – Zundaps and BMWs – Guatemala Eduardo’s Motos – Zundaps and BMWs – Guatemala Eduardo’s Toy Planes – Guatemala Eduardo’s Motos – Zundaps and BMWs – Guatemala Eduardo’s Motos – Zundaps and BMWs – Guatemala Eduardo’s Motos – Zundaps and BMWs – Guatemala Tuk – Tuk shop in Chimeltenango – Tuk – Tuk shop in Chimeltenango Guatemala Acatenango and Fuego Volcanos – Guatemala Acatenango and Fuego Volcanos – Guatemala Acatenango and Fuego Volcanos – Guatemala Acatenango and Fuego Volcanos – Guatemala Finca La Pampa, Acatenengo – Herbert Perez Guatemala Finca La Pampa, Acatenengo – Guatemala Finca La Pampa, Acatenengo – Guatemala Finca La Pampa, Acatenengo – Guatemala Acatenango – Fuego Blows off Steam! – Guatemala Acatenango – Fuego Blows off Steam! – Guatemala Acatenango – Fuego Blows off Steam! – Guatemala Acatenango – Fuego Blows off Steam! – Guatemala Acatenango – Fuego Blows off Steam! – Guatemala Acatenango – Fuego Blows off Steam! – Guatemala IMG_2506.JPG – Guatemala Acatenango – Fuego Blows off Steam! – Guatemala Acatenango – Fuego Blows off Steam! – Guatemala Acatenango – Fuego Blows off Steam! – Guatemala Acatenango – Fuego Blows off Steam! – Guatemala Acatenango – Fuego Blows off Steam! – Guatemala Acatenango – Fuego Blows off Steam! – Guatemala Acatenango – Fuego Blows off Steam! – Guatemala Acatenango – Guatemala Old Arabigo (Typica) – Guatemala Acatenango – Guatemala Acatenango – Guatemala Acatenango – Guatemala Acatenango – Guatemala Acatenango Street Signs – On a fertilizer store Guatemala Acatenango, a little La Pampa – Guatemala Acatenango – Guatemala Acatenango Fists of Power – Partido Patriota, Guatemala Guatemala Acatenango – Family Pride – Guatemala Acatenango – Guatemala Acatenango – Guatemala
Acatenango, San Diego Coffee Farm, and San Jose Pinula Coffee Farm
San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Peligro! Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Pergamino tractors Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Manuel Ramiro Lantan Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, Acatenango – Guatemala Finca El Zapote, Acatenango, Guatemala – Guatemala Finca El Zapote, Acatenango, Guatemala – Guatemala Finca El Zapote, Acatenango, Guatemala – Guatemala Finca El Zapote, Acatenango, Guatemala – Guatemala Finca El Zapote, Acatenango, Guatemala – Guatemala Finca El Zapote, Acatenango, Guatemala – Guatemala Finca El Zapote, Acatenango, Guatemala – Eduardo, Julio and Ian with traceability reports for each lot Guatemala Finca El Zapote, Acatenango, Guatemala – Guatemala Finca El Zapote, Acatenango, Guatemala – Guatemala Finca El Zapote, Acatenango, Guatemala – Guatemala Finca El Zapote, Acatenango, Guatemala – Guatemala The Road near Chimeltenango – Guatemala The Road near Chimeltenango – Guatemala The Road near Chimeltenango – Guatemala The Road near Chimeltenango – Guatemala The Road near Chimeltenango – Guatemala The Road near Chimeltenango – Guatemala Agua Volcano, Antigua – Guatemala The Road near Chimeltenango – Guatemala The Road near Chimeltenango – Guatemala Guns and bikes – … they DO mix, in Guatemala. Guatemala Obscene Cats of Antigua – Guatemala Old Coffee Pulpers – Guatemala Runaway Steer, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala San Jose Pinula, Garden Home – Guatemala The Road to El Trinidad – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Honda-powered pulper Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Paul Stauder and Armando Melgar Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Armando’s amazing 4wd ford f-250 lariat. Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Refusing to die Guatemala 
El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Fresh water spring (nacimiento) Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Armando drinks from the spring Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – New planting of catuai amidst pine needles Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – View of Volcan Pacaya and Volcan Agua in the distance Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – A cleat with no cleats Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Armando on his farm Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Catuai Rojo Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Red Bourbon Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Odd large bean tree with strange flower union. I planted this in my greenhouse – maybe just Catuai. Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Red Bourbon coffee cherry Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Armando’s grand luncheon Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Very cute, very skinny pup. I fed him chicharrones on the sly Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – Armando and Paul Guatemala El Trinidad, San Jose Pinula – grafitti on the shed of the workers at san jose pinula Guatemala
Paul Stauder, Rest in Peace
Paul Stauder from Volcafe Guatemala was tragically killed some months after this trip. He was a guy who loved to get out of the office in Guatemala City and travel to the farms. I really appreciated all of his coffee knowledge, and I think the reason we were getting such good coffee from Guatemala was because of Paul. He is missed. -Thompson
