Organic Guatemala Tojquia

Why We Love It

Guatemala is renowned for producing exceptional coffees, and some of the best come from our friends at the CODECH Cooperative. Over years of collaboration, the team at CODECH has identified several outstanding farmers whose coffees consistently impress us with their layered, sweet, and complex flavors. For the fourth consecutive year, Porfirio’s coffee again stands out as the best we’ve tasted from the cooperative, offering a cup profile that perfectly balances bright acidity, lush fruitiness, and sweet milk chocolate tones. This year’s harvest delights with flavors of black and red cherries and a touch of lemon, followed by juicy hibiscus notes and a finish layered with milk chocolate and subtle florals.

About Guatemalan Coffee

In Guatemala, the vast majority of coffee farmers—100% of our producer partners, in fact—are campesinos: rural and indigenous smallholder farmers. These producers typically manage an average of just five acres of land, with some farming as little as two acres. Most have grown up immersed in coffee production or agriculture and continue this path because it reflects their historic values, worldview, and cultural traditions. They take immense pride in being coffee producers.

Historically, Guatemalan coffees were often categorized as mid-level or commodity-grade in terms of quality. But today, there’s growing recognition that Guatemala produces truly exceptional coffees, with diverse and vibrant cup profiles. While many of these top-tier coffees come from large, wealthy farms, we’ve discovered outstanding quality within cooperatively organized, smallholder, organic farms on the margins in the remote highlands of Huehuetenango. 

Here, we’ve partnered with the CODECH Cooperative to source coffees for our most beloved blends, including Flyway, Heartstrings, Big Dipper, and Harvest. We also offer a range of micro-lots that showcase the diverse flavor profiles and unique qualities nurtured by this cooperative. What sets CODECH apart is its unwavering commitment to quality and organization. From their lab to the receiving bodegas to the farms, CODECH invests heavily in training both their staff and farmer members, resulting in coffees that capture the distinct flavors we adore from Huehuetenango—whether it’s the comforting chocolate-forward profiles or the vibrant, fruit-driven micro-lots.

About Porfirio Velasquez

Porfirio embodies the true spirit of a campesino. His farm spans just over seven acres, where coffee trees grow under the shade of native trees, surrounded by blooming flowers and native shrubs. Each day, he wears traditional Mam attire—the indigenous dress of his people from the western highlands of Guatemala. Earlier this year, we had the privilege of visiting him to discuss his life in coffee, which for him is not merely an occupation but a legacy—a torch passed down from his parents, rooted in cultural preservation through farming and way of life.

Though humble and reserved, Porfirio opened up with warmth and humor as we chatted over local beers, which we carried on the long hike to his farm. As we translated from Mam to Spanish to English, his eyes lit up when he learned he had placed third out of 65 farmers in the annual CODECH cupping competition, which we were honored to co-judge. We’re thrilled to once again work with Porfirio and purchase his entire harvest. He’s an exceptional producer who, despite the challenges of modern coffee production, crafts a wonderfully complex coffee while preserving traditional farming methods and indigenous culture for future generations.