GUATEMALA
Maragogype
maple syrup, candied grapefruit, plum
Regular price
$24.00
alt: 1750-1800 MASL
Roast: light
farm: La Providencia
producer: Max Ariel Palacios Villatoro
region: Huehuetenango
process: Washed
varietal: Maragogype
THE FARM
The farm itself is 220 hectares large and spans an altitude of 1,350 to 1,950 meters above sea level. Coffee production begins at 1,550 meters above sea level and encompasses 180 hectares of the farm, with a focus on Bourbon and Caturra varieties.
This high altitude results in a slow maturation period for the coffee cherries, allowing sugars to develop and increasing complexity in the final cup. The steep topography requires great attention to detail to avoid erosion and the depletion of nutrients from the clay loam soil. Native trees are intermingled with the coffee plants, providing shade for the coffee and preventing soil washing. These trees also act to preserve biodiversity and local ecology on the farm. Fertilization is practiced multiple times a year to retain nutrients in the soil. At the base of the farm is La Providencia’s nursery. A single full time worker manages the propagation and care of coffee plants and shade trees. To keep the farm disease resistant and to normalize production, coffee plants are replaced on average every 8 years.
This requires the nursery to produce 60,000 new plants per year. Seeds are collected from trees already on the farm to ensure the cup profile remains consistent over the years. They’re sowed and grown in sand for 45 days before being transferred to soil in planter bags, where they remain for a year until being transplanted to various plots throughout the farm.
The plot of Maragogype trees have special significance to the Palacios family. These trees were originally planted by Max’s grandfather, Javier, and are between 30-40 years old. The Maragogype variety produced Javier’s favorite cup, and he would reserve 100 pounds every year for his own personal consumption. The sentimental value of this plot is one of the reasons Max has decided to preserve these trees over the years, as opposed to replacing them with Bourbon or Caturra as the rest of the farm is planted. This small plot only produces 8-15 bags per year, and is pruned every 4-6 years to keep it productive and healthy. This lot has been enjoyed by generations of Palacios, and needless to say, we’re humbled and honored Max shares it with us.
THE VARIETY
The Maragogype variety (also spelled Maragogipe) is a natural mutation of the Typica variety. It was first discovered near the city of Maragogipe in Bahia, Brazil in the year 1870. Since its discovery, it has been propagated throughout Latin America, though it’s most commonly found in Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Maragogype produces large fruit with equally large seeds, resulting in their nickname of “elephant beans.” It’s cup quality has a reputation for being very dependent on the region, terroir, and climate it’s grown in. This, coupled with its low yield potential and susceptibility to disease, makes it an often overlooked variety by farmers, resulting in scarcity in the global market. As a challenge to roasters, the large size and porosity of Maragogype seeds can make it difficult to roast.
