Las Marias Direct Relationship Coffee

Milk Chocolate | Tangerine | Pine Nuts

Guatemala | Women-Produced

Let's get a little nerdy for a minute, because while this coffee tastes amazing with the sweet milk chocolate notes and bright tangerine acidity, Las Marias gives us a glimpse into the ways that altitude affects coffee. This is our second coffee from the Schippers family and their fourth-generation farm, Finca San Luis El Volcancito. This new coffee is grown a few thousand meters higher than the other coffee we've sourced from them, Dos Niñas, and even just those few thousand meters makes a difference in the coffee. You'll notice more sweetness and more brightness in this coffee. The beans are denser because of the slowed growth at higher altitudes, which typically results in concentrated sugars and more nuanced flavors. 

This is not to say that Dos Ninas is somehow lesser quality, because it all comes down to a matter of preference. Coffees grown at lower altitudes are full of mellow, nutty notes and less acidity. For many of you - that's the good stuff. But if you find yourself curious what coffee tastes like a little higher on the volcano, you need to try Las Marias. 

The farmers of this coffee are not only committed to their family legacy and superior coffee quality, they have also invested in the community that upholds the day-to-day work. The farm is home to 11 families, who are also the farm workers.  As part of giving back to their coffee community, they provide each family with land for their personal crop, a school for the children, and a church.  They are also in the process of building each family a cinder block house. 

We're overjoyed to partner with The Schippers Family to bring this coffee to you. You're going to love it. 

Read more about this family on the blog!