Guatemala FTO Huehuetenango WP Decaf

This decaf comes from a reputable source who like ourselves, selects coffees from their own sourcing efforts based on the cup quality before the coffee is decaffeinated. There's a benefit to having your own coffee decaffeinated, affording you much more insight into how the final product will taste. It's a great plan, and a much more quality-focused effort. This particular lot is sourced from a Fair Trade and NOP Organic cooperative in Huehuetenango, AAPICUC. They currently have around 250 small holders registered with the coop, providing training in sustainable farming specifically to achieve organic certification. This is not only an environmentally focused effort, but also provides a premium payment to farmers as a result. Farmers registered with AAPICUC are also trained to keep bees which has been shown to increase production, even though coffee trees are self-pollinating. The farms span an altitude range of 1300 - 2000 meters. The type of water-process decaffeination method used here leaves the beans a bit mottled and brown, which you can see in the photo. This evens out just fine in the roaster, but you have to pay close attention to color changes as you approach an often subdued first crack.