Guatemala Finca La Bolsa

Tasting Notes: Milk chocolate, toasted almond, plum jam.

In the cup

First sips reveal a clean, fruit-forward cup—a direct result of the black honey processing that amplifies natural sweetness and complexity. Fresh off brewing, the cup presents a mild lemongrass aroma. As the cup cools, tangy dried cherry emerges as the dominant note, yielding to a rich caramel finish tinged with subtle molasses-like bitterness. A warming spice note lingers in the background, reminiscent of nutmeg.

Origin

Established in 1958 and cared for by the Vides family, Finca La Bolsa is located in Guatemala's most famous coffee-growing region, Huehuetenango.  The area's cool mountain temperatures and limestone-rich soils provide ideal conditions for slow cherry maturation.  Combined with generations of expertise, the terroir imparts depth, sweetness, and complexity.

This particular lot was produced using the black honey process, where much of the coffee's fruit pulp is intentionally left on the seed during the drying stage.  This processing technique tends to increase body and complexity in the cup as a result of some of the sugars and aromatic compounds from the pulp penetrating into the seed.

Producer

Finca La Bolsa was founded in 1958 by Dr. Jorge Vides.  The farm is now managed by 2nd and 3rd generation farmers Maria Elena and Renardo Ovalle Vides.