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Antigua

A high valley ringed by three volcanoes, and the country's most famous name.

Altitude
1,500–1,700 m
Harvest
January–March
Species
Arabica
Processing
Washed

About the region

Antigua is a high valley ringed by three volcanoes — Agua, Fuego and Acatenango — and it is the most protected origin name in Guatemala. A grower association polices who may use it, because for a long time far more Antigua was sold than grown.

The volcanoes do real work: they shelter the valley from wind, they drop ash that keeps the soil porous and mineral-rich, and they hold cloud cover that slows ripening.

In the cup

Full-bodied and rich, with cocoa and toffee sweetness, a spiced undertone, and a firm but rounded acidity. The most classically 'Guatemalan' cup, and the benchmark the other regions are read against.

Terrain

An enclosed volcanic valley at around 1,500 m, with pumice-rich soil that holds moisture through the dry season.

Varieties

Bourbon Caturra Catuai

Other regions in Guatemala

Huehuetenango The highest non-volcanic region, kept frost-free by dry winds off Mexico. Atitlán Volcanic slopes above the lake, with soil unusually rich in organic matter.

Sources

  1. World Coffee Research — Arabica Coffee Varieties (read August 24, 2026) Cited for Varieties