Indulge in a delicious cup of our Natural Coffee. With its silky body and smooth, velvety texture, our Natural Coffee may be blended with milk or creamer for delicious cups of cappuccino, latte, mocha, or macchiato. Of course, this coffee also makes a fine espresso and can certainly be enjoyed as Americano as well.
Our Natural Coffee contributes to the generation of employment with living wages for men and women from the community near The Little Mountain School. During the harvest season, each bean is delicately picked at exactly the right moment by trained women. This provides the women in our community with a dignified extra income to support themselves during this time of year.
Characteristics of the Natural Coffee Farm
The Little Mountain Natural Coffee is grown in La aldea Buena Vista, located in Los Mixcos, Palencia, Guatemala. The farm sits at an elevation of approximately 1,700 meters (5,577 feet) above sea level and enjoys a cool mountain climate. Here’s a detailed description of the climate in this region and how it benefits coffee crops:
Temperature: Buena Vista experiences cool temperatures throughout the year, with an average temperature ranging between 15°C and 20°C (59°F and 72°F). These cool temperatures are ideal for cultivating high-quality coffee.
Rainy season: The region has a rainy season from May to October, with moderate precipitation. These rains provide the necessary humidity for the coffee crops to thrive.
Dry season: The dry season runs from November to April, with sunny days and cool temperatures. This season allows the coffee fruits to develop slowly, contributing to their flavor and quality.
Elevation: The elevation of 1,700 meters (5,577 feet) above sea level provides a cool and stable climate that benefits coffee cultivation. Coffee plants grow more slowly at this altitude, resulting in denser beans with more complex flavors.
Processing for our Natural Coffee
The natural coffee process, also known as the dry process, is a coffee processing technique that involves drying the coffee beans with the cherry still intact. Below is a detailed description of the process:
Cherry Selection: Ripe, high-quality coffee cherries are carefully selected to ensure optimal flavor in the final coffee.
Washing and Sorting: The cherries are washed to remove dirt and sorted by size and ripeness.
Drying: The cherries are placed on drying beds in the sun to dry slowly over several weeks. During this process, the cherries are regularly turned to ensure even drying and prevent fermentation.
Storage: The green coffee beans are stored under proper conditions to maintain their freshness and quality before being roasted.
The natural coffee process is known for its distinctive, fruity flavor profile, with sweet and smooth notes. This processing method highlights the natural characteristics of the coffee cherry and can produce coffees with complex and unique flavors.
