In the Atitlan region of central Guatemala, the Echeverria family has been producing and processing exceptional quality coffees since 1870. Originally named Finca Ceylan & Colima, the name was later changed to Finca Ceylan & Anexos (annexes) as other farms became a part of it. The farm hires mostly local labor, generating jobs for people in the surrounding towns. Conscientious environmental practices are employed in and around the farm. The coffee residue from the wet mill is used as an organic fertilizer for the farm, creating a self-sufficient system. To protect its abundant water resources, the farm maintains the river basins and the natural vegetation that grows nearby. Before disposal, the water used in the wet mill processing is filtered through oxidation tanks to prevent contamination of the nearby rivers. Finca Ceylan has a natural forest reserve that is protected - hunting and fishing are prohibited - to conserve different species of trees, plants, and wildlife in the ecosystem. The farm has qualified for organic certification and is also bird-friendly certified by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. The farm’s employees and their families are provided with housing, drinkable water, and educational benefits. The cultivation of alternative crops such as cardamom, macadamia nuts, bananas, and plantains also helps to provide for the well-being of the farm families. Atitlan coffees tend to be more relaxed than Huehuetenango coffees, but no less tasty. The flavor profile is similar - creamy chocolate, nice complexity to the body, some lemon and floral accents. Guatemalan coffee tends to be the most complex of all Central & South American coffees, which is why we like them so much. This Ceylan coffee has more citrus notes than the Huehuetenango and the chocolate is more cocoa than milk chocolate.
