Flavour description: This is a well-balanced, fruity coffee with an aroma of sweet pastry. We find flavour notes of red currant and tarte tatin pastry in a delicious dessert-like hit. The coffee has a bright green apple-like acidity with medium intensity.
Colour to describe flavour: Turquoise
Category: Adventurous
Producer: Raul Pérez
Location: Acatenango in the Chimaltenango department
Harvest: June 2023
Farm Name: La Soledad
Varietal: Yellow Catuaí
Elevation: 1,500 m.a.s.l.
Processing: Washed
Price transparency: The FOB price paid for this coffee was $3.65/lb
Owned by the Perez family (Henio, Mercedes and two sons Raul and Jose) La Soledad is a special farm and a favourite of some of the world biggest coffee roasters. Thankfully because of the long-standing relationship between us, we are always among the lucky few to be able to buy this coffee. The family have been farming the land for several generations over the past 120 years and have no plans going anywhere anytime soon.
Located in the Acatenango Region of Guatemala, La Soledad is nestled between two volcanoes, creating a unique microclimate. The closest one to Feuego regularly deposits a bit of ash on the the soil which acts a natural fertiliser. The farm its self is 222 acres of which half is natural forest and the other half coffee production. The attention to detail in the farm management and processing is second to none, which is part of what makes the coffee so popular.
Raul, the eldest son, since has a keen focus on cupping and quality, and has even built his own lab and testing area and cupping every lot that comes out of the farm. This means they are able to filter out lots that do not meet their strict guidelines and guarantee the final cup tastes amazing.
We have both visited Raul a few times, with him collecting us from the airport, but on one trip in 2020 Steve and Joanna decided to hire a car in Guatemala City and travel to the farm on their own. They got lost 3 times and ended up arriving in the early evening, much later than planned but in time to catch the end of day coffee processing and a magical sunset. But stopping on the farm overnight with all the family really left us with some special memories and La Soledad holds a special place in our hearts.
