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 the United States. : Guatemalan growing regions 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
