The cup exhibits - crisp acidity, fine balance and full body - smoky undertones - hints of chocolate, caramel and ripe sweet grape. This is a beautiful coffee with a distinct personality
Per 250g pack - not the usual smaller 227g
Additional information:
Coffee: Guatemala - Pasajquim Organic - Lot No:1183
Farm: Pasajquim Community
Varietal(s): Bourbon, Caturra
Processing: Wet
Owner: Pasajquim Community
City/Town: Pasajquim
Region: San Juan La Laguna - District of Sololá
Country: Guatemala.
Certification: USDA Orgnic Certified
Hidden between the mountains and volcanos in the department of Solola is the village of Pasajquim. Pasajquim is a very small village of around 1000 people and can only be reached via a 23km (14 miles) partly made track which descends 2500m (8200ft) off the main highway to the Village which sits deep in a valley at 1850m. (5000ft)
When we visited the village there was no cloud cover at 2500m and the view from the track as we descended was simply outstanding. The village is situated at the end of the track – one way in and one way out. The coffee which comes out of this village is as good as the view from the track – simply outstanding.
There are two main producing farms - both around 2 hector (very small) and a number of tiny surrounding farms at 1 hector and below. The plots are carefully tended in rich organic soil which is fertilised by using the cherry pulp mixed with other organic waste to create organic fertiliser.
The two main farms have their own wet processing facilities which both run small pulping machines. The crop is picked and delivered by the producing families to either of the wet mills.
The producing families fully understand the importance of delivering ripe cherries to the mill and since the plots are picked by the very families that own them they pick more precisely and limit the number of green cherries picked and waste given away to green.
Most of the coffee is patio dried and at the peak of the coffee harvest patio space for drying is at a premium and every flat surface suitable for drying coffee is used. Remarkably one of the main farms has a small single hatch wood fired drum dryer that is used to reduce the drying time. The dryer is fired on the annual pruning of the coffee trees and other sustainable sources.
Since the mills are very small and everything is hands on by the producing families, control is of the optimum and quality is the end result. For example – most wet coffee mills use 5 classification points to make sure the coffee is of the utmost quality, but in Pasajquim they use 7 points of classification.
We would describe this village as poor by any standard and we are very keen to support their efforts by buying their wonderful coffee.
Cupping Notes
Clean Cup: 7
Sweetness: 8
Acidity: 7
Mouthfeel: 7
Flavour: 8
Aftertaste: 7
Balance: 7
Overall: 7
Correction: +36
Total: 94
Brewing Notes:
Filtered: Yes
Espresso: Yes
