Most of us can’t stand a day without it or couldn’t imagine a morning without it. You all know what I’m talking about: this magical potion called coffee.
I’m definitely one of those persons who wake up, trying to find my way to the kitchen – eyes half closed – and getting myself a strong, hot coffee. If there’s no coffee left I feel like the day is meant to be bad.
That’s why travelling to South America, or better said; the three main exporters of coffee – Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia, was more than a pleasure! Believe it or not, but there’s a huge difference between the coffee you can buy in Europe, compared to the ones I drank there!
Today I want to focus on my most interesting coffee experience I had during my trip.
I was very lucky to meet a guy, who was born and raised in Guatemala City and now living in Antigua who could introduce me to the Coffee culture in Guatemala.
I bet nearly none of you knew that coffee is the number one export in Guatemala!
My Guatemalan friend brought me to this famous coffee farm called ‘’La Azotea Plantation’’. This family business started to plant and produce coffee in 1893.
In 1883 Doña Dominga Mont purchased the plantation and her son-in-law, Don Marcelo Orive, converted it to the cultivation of coffee.
In 1908, Don Marcelo’s son, Don Alberto Orive, increased the size of the farm.
The plantation and the coffee mill are still operated by Don Alberto’s grandchildren who in the year 2000 converted part of the plantation to a museum complex: Centro Cultural La Azotea.
I was lucky enough to get a private tour through the plantation, as well as exploring the museum and really seeing how coffee gets produced and the importance of different circumstances such as climate and surroundings.
I definitely recommend a visit to a plantation set in the stunning nature of Guatemala.
Now that I know how it works, I can enjoy my cup of coffee even more!
