Guatemala - Acatenango

Rich volcanic soil, low humidity, lots of sun and cool nights characterize the coffees of Antigua. The valley is dominated by the magnificent Agua, Acatenango and Fuego volcanoes (all above 3,000 meters high). 

Every once and a while, the Fuego volcano adds a fresh dusting of mineral rich ash to Antigua’s soil. Volcanic pumice in the soil retains moisture, which helps offset Antigua’s low rainfall, the lowest of Guatemala’s coffee regions.

In Antigua, shade is especially dense because it protects the coffee trees from the region’s occasional frost. The city of Antigua was founded by the Spanish conquistadores in 1543. The Santa Martha earthquake of 1773 made the city to be abandoned and the capital was relocated to its current location in the Valley of Ermita.

With its cobblestone streets and colonial monuments, Antigua has preserved the legacy of the Spanish era, and was declared a World Heritage site by Unesco in 1979.

The high quality of the coffee grown in Antigua has given this region its widespread world recognition.