Guatemala Huehuetenango La Bolsa Farm Free Washed

[A Word from the Roaster]
From a select lot of La Bolsa (Finca La Bolsa) in the rugged Huehuetenango region, at an altitude of about 1,600m, comes a cup where the sweetness of cherry and caramel meets a refreshing, fruity character.

[Origin Notes]
La Bolsa Farm (Finca La Bolsa), in the La Libertad district in the southern part of the Huehuetenango region, sits at a high altitude of about 1,500 to 1,700m, marked by the rugged terrain of the Cuchumatanes range (the highland mountains of western Guatemala) and soil of limestone and clay. Since Dr. Jorge Vides, a physician and estate owner, first cultivated it in 1958, the family has run it continuously across three generations. As of 2025 his daughter María Elena Vides and grandson Renaldo Ovalle are involved in its management, and in 2024 the next generation joined as well. Thanks to a distinctive environment shaped by its altitude, the dry hot winds from Mexico, an annual average temperature of 21°C, and 60 percent relative humidity (a microclimate: the small-scale climate conditions particular to a place), the farm is regarded as an origin capable of producing high-quality coffee.

As one of Guatemala's special regions, it stands alongside El Injerto, a perennial top finisher at the Cup of Excellence, and the La Libertad district also has a winning record dating back to 2011. La Bolsa Farm too has received high marks at competitions, maintaining its quality through sustainable farming methods and community support such as founding schools and providing childcare and vocational training.

The washed process (free washed, FW: a process that removes the fruit and mucilage from the bean through water and fermentation) and sun drying (patio drying) draw out the bean's natural translucence and clean finish. The natural savoriness brought by the limestone soil and the dry hot winds appears in the cup as a well-balanced sweetness, a soft acidity, and a clean richness.

As a contribution to the local community, the farm supports children's schooling and works to prevent child labor through a school founded on its grounds in 1980 (later a publicly accredited school bearing the estate owner's name) and a childcare and vocational training center established in 2012 (Association Coffee Care). Through Rainforest Alliance certification, it has also adopted farming methods that balance environmental conservation with fair labor.

This lot was selected for beans with the "sweet, approachable flavor profile" of cherry and caramel that suits Japanese tastes, and is the finest-quality coffee harvested from winter through early spring (January to April). The estate owner, Renaldo, has inherited an unwavering commitment to quality from the third generation, and together with the fourth generation is devoted to still greater diversity and quality. It is truly positioned as "a special cup selected anew each year."

Tasting Notes: A bright, fruity character reminiscent of cherry and apple, a soft caramel sweetness, and a clean chocolate note with a pleasant lingering finish. It pairs wonderfully with milk.

Product Name Guatemala Huehuetenango La Bolsa Farm Free Washed
Region Guatemala, Huehuetenango, La Libertad district
Altitude About 1,600m
Producer La Bolsa Farm
Process Washed method (free washed / FW), sun dried (patio)
Roast Level Medium-dark roast (City roast)