About This Coffee
Gonzalo Hernandez and Jose Padilla founded Coffea Diversa Suchitan in 2011. They were inspired by the Coffea Diversa garden in Biolley, Costa Rica and requested seeds from the garden. They searched far and wide for the best region in Guatemala for cultivating the unique and high-quality varieties present in the garden. They decided upon Volcan de Suchitan as the best microclimate to nurture these varieties and help them reach their full potential. Today, they successfully cultivate a plethora of specialty coffee varieties including Geisha, Laurina, Mokka, Sudan Rume, Typica Xanthocarpa and more.
Cultivation
The Volcan de Suchitan region provides an ideal microclimate for cultivating specialty coffee. The soil is volcanic and nutrient-rich, thanks to eruptions from the nearby volcano. High altitudes reaching over 2,000 meters create the perfect climate of warm days and cool nights. Inga, avocado and native trees provide ample shade for growing coffee trees.
Harvest & Post-Harvest
Cherry is selectively handpicked and only ripe, red cherry is processed. Cherry is laid on raised beds to sundry slowly and is raked frequently to ensure even drying.
About Sudan Rume
Sudan Rume (also written as “Rume Sudan”) is an ancient landrace variety that was first cultivated in South Sudan’s Boma plateau. One of the main reasons Sudan Rume is not widely cultivated commercially is its low productivity. However, Sudan Rume has stronger resistance to Coffee Berry Disease and Coffee Leaf Rust than other Arabica strains, including Bourbon and Typica. Today, the variety is primarily cultivated by plant breeders to include in cultivars. One of its most famous descendants is SL-28. When Sudan Rume is grown commercially it is coveted for its cup quality and relative rarity.
Coffee in Guatemala
Guatemala boasts a variety of growing regions and conditions that produce spectacular coffees. Today, the country is revered as a producer of some of the most flavorful and nuanced cups worldwide. We are proud to work with several exceptional in-country partners to bring these coffees to market.
The Guatemalan coffee industry experienced a major setback with the 2010 appearance of Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) in Latin America. The epidemic peaked in severity in 2012, and though CLR continues to affect some farms, Guatemala continues to produce high-quality, record-breaking coffees. In 2017, new and varied processing methods pushed prices at the Guatemalan Cup of Excellence contest to record highs.
The quality of coffee being produced in Guatemala is increasing, overall, due to the diversity of the industry’s producers. There are more and more small holder farmers producing exceptional coffee at high altitudes. Cooperatives are becoming more appealing to so many smallholders because they often offer farmers financing and other support for improving their farming and processing and are frequently able to offer higher prices for cherry than middlemen. Many cooperatives have initiated quality improvement training for farmer members and are becoming more adept at helping members market their coffee as specialty.