Guatemala — Juan Diego de la Cerda, Finca El Socorro, Maracaturra (Washed)

Tastes Like — 🍬 Nougat • 🍏 Apple • 🌼 Chamomile

DETAILS

• Producer: Juan Diego de la Cerda
• Farm: Finca El Socorro
• Region: Palencia, Guatemala
• Varietal: Maracaturra
• Process: Washed
• Altitude: 1,798–1,890 MASL
• Size: 227g (8oz)

INTRO

Finca El Socorro, nestled in the high-altitude municipality of Palencia just 50 kilometres from Guatemala City, is the source of this exceptional Maracaturra lot. Grown between 1,798 and 1,890 metres on loamy-sandy soils in a microclimate of remarkable consistency, the coffee undergoes a precise washed process that delivers a clean, layered cup. The result is a coffee that is both approachable and deeply expressive — a rare combination in this varietal.

The cup is defined by its soft nougat sweetness, a crisp apple clarity, and a delicate chamomile florality that lingers through the finish. Bright, fruit-forward acidity balances a silky mouthfeel and medium body, making this an elegant everyday filter or a compelling espresso.

THE PRODUCER

Juan Diego de la Cerda is one of Guatemala's most respected and celebrated specialty coffee producers. Operating Finca El Socorro across its impressive altitude range in Palencia, he has developed the farm into a model of sustainable and quality-driven production. The farm is Rainforest Alliance Certified, powered in part by solar energy, and draws on a natural water source for its wet mill — a commitment to environmental stewardship that runs through every aspect of the operation.

Beehives are integrated throughout the ecosystem, supporting pollination and biodiversity. Finca El Socorro has attracted the attention of some of the world's finest roasters precisely because Juan Diego's dedication to precision and consistency means that every lot is a reliable expression of place and craft. The Maracaturra variety — a natural cross between the large-beaned Maragogype and the compact, high-yielding Caturra — thrives in this environment, producing beans of exceptional size and layered complexity.

THE PROCESS

The Washed process at Finca El Socorro involves:

• 🍒 Selective Harvesting — Cherry picked at peak ripeness; sugar content measured to ensure consistency.
• 🔧 Pulping — Skin and fruit removed immediately after harvest at the on-site wet mill.
• 💧 Fermentation — Coffee fermented dry or with water to develop clean, complex acidity.
• 💧 Washing — Beans thoroughly washed to remove all remaining mucilage and ensure clarity.
• ☀️ Drying — Dried at high altitude in cool temperatures, slowing the process and enhancing flavour precision.
• ✅ Milling & Grading — Final sorting and preparation for export at Rainforest Alliance Certified facilities.

The precision of this washed process, combined with the farm's altitude and microclimate, is what produces the Maracaturra's characteristic clarity — a cup that is simultaneously fruit-forward and remarkably clean.

THE CUP

Soft, sweet, and elegant, this Maracaturra from Finca El Socorro delivers a refined washed profile that rewards careful brewing. The nougat body carries through without weight, the apple acidity is crisp and integrating, and the chamomile florality adds a delicate, tea-like dimension to the finish.

Flavour Notes

• 🍬 Nougat
• 🍏 Apple
• 🌼 Chamomile