Each month, our Specialty Estate range is an opportunity to explore something a little different, whether that’s a unique origin, a standout varietal, or a processing method that pushes flavour in a new direction. This June, we’re heading to Santa Rosa in Guatemala for a coffee that does exactly that.
Introducing Guatemala El Boquerón – Natural. A vibrant, fruit-driven coffee that showcases just how exciting natural processing can be when it’s done with precision and care.
A Different Approach to Flavour
Unlike the washed coffees many of us are familiar with, this lot is processed using the natural (or unwashed) method. That means the coffee cherries are dried whole, with the fruit still surrounding the bean. As the cherries slowly dry under the sun, sugars and fruit compounds are absorbed into the coffee, developing deeper sweetness and more pronounced fruit flavours.
The result is immediately noticeable in the cup. Expect strawberry, cherry, and tropical fruit, layered with a smooth caramel sweetness and a rounded, silky body. It’s vibrant and expressive, yet still clean, making it a perfect introduction to natural coffees for those who haven’t ventured there before.
From Many Hands, One Exceptional Cup
What makes El Boquerón particularly interesting is how it’s produced. Rather than coming from a single estate, this coffee is the result of around 250 smallholder farmers across the Santa Rosa region. Each producer carefully harvests ripe cherries before delivering them to the El Boquerón Wet Mill, where quality control and processing are handled with consistency and precision.
The mill itself operates under Rainforest Alliance certification, supporting responsible environmental practices and improved conditions for the farming communities it works with. This adds another layer of integrity to the coffee, ensuring that quality extends beyond the cup and into how the coffee is produced.
This collaborative model allows for both scale and quality. By bringing together multiple producers, the mill can create a larger, reliable lot, while still maintaining the integrity and flavour complexity you’d expect from a micro-lot-style coffee. It’s a great example of how thoughtful processing and careful selection can elevate coffee beyond its individual parts.