FREE SHIPPING OVER $65
Guatemala Antigua Finca San Sebastian

Thumbnail Filmstrip of Guatemala Antigua Finca San Sebastian Images

    Purchase Guatemala Antigua Finca San Sebastian

    Guatemala Antigua Finca San Sebastian

    Cup characteristics: Clean, bright and complex. With lots of body and some perceived light smokiness the coffee has deep flavor and sweetness, common to the Bourbon variety. As with other high grown coffee, there is piquant acidity and Antigua's notable zesty character. This year's coffee has milk chocolate and is particularly clean.
    $16.00
    Select Size:
     

    We have been directly importing this coffee since 2014, prior to which it was nearly impossible to acquire in the US because all of the farm's output until then was purchased by companies in Japan.  Years ago we met Mario Falla who owned and ran the farm. We had and really enjoyed the coffee but, as stated, there just was not enough to fill orders for new customers. We wound up first developing a relationship with other members of the Falla family and became multi year purchases of their neighboring La Tacita farm and then ultimately the San Sebastian property. It is not available every year but we were able to secure some this year and quality is very high.

    This Antigua coffee comes from the San Sebastian farm which sits at about 5000 - 6000 feet above sea level and spans 450 hectares. The farm was founded in 1890 by Salvador Falla Santos and is now managed by a fourth generation member of the Falla family, Estuardo Falla Castillo. During its history San Sebastian has earned a spot as one of the most acknowledged names of Antigua coffee - there are only about 50 genuine Antigua farms. Over the century that it has been cultivating coffee it has managed to produce quality coffee time and again. From the first award it received in 1904 to its win at the prestigious Cup of Excellence Competition in 2007, it's clear that San Sebastian has mastered the art of coffee production. Quality control and use of technology allows the farm managers to analyze every lot that is harvested, ensuring great coffee each year. They grow both Bourbon and Caturra (dwarf Bourbon) varieties that are then processed at the farm's own wetmill and 100% sundried. The coffee is packed in grainpro bags at origin to further preserve the character.

    Bourbon is not the most common variety these days throughout Antigua but this heirloom cultivar offers sweet, concentrated flavors due to its relatively low yield, somewhat small size and the high elevation where it is grown. They use two tiers of shade tree with naturally occurring oak forming the top tier and planted Grevilla and Macadamia forming the lower. These shade trees provide a canopy which allows coffee to grow more slowly and its sweetness is heightened. This type of canopy also provides habitat for wildlife, protection against erosion and it fosters natural compost. In fact, about 1,100 hectares of the Falla's large property, is kept uncultivated as a natural reserve where pumas, panthers and armadillos can be seen. The Fallas promote responsible cultivation, protection of the their micro environment and fair wages to their employees through premium coffee production and pricing.

    Antigua, Guatemala's former 16th century capital, was abandoned by the 18th century because of the frequency of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The Falla family bought property there in 1890 and has been farming since. Over the years, their sizeable overall holdings were divided among heirs with much of the land being used for coffee and other farming.