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Atitlán

Volcanic slopes above the lake, with soil unusually rich in organic matter.

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

About the region

Atitlán grows on the volcanic slopes above Lake Atitlán, and its soil is the most organically rich of any Guatemalan region — a consequence of the lake's own ecosystem and the volcanic ash above it. Nearly all of the coffee is grown within sight of the water.

Daily winds off the lake, the *xocomil*, moderate the temperature and are part of why the region ripens the way it does.

In the cup

Bright and floral with a pronounced citrus acidity, a fuller body than Huehuetenango, and a distinct herbal or floral top note that the lakeside farms are known for.

Terrain

Steep volcanic slopes above a caldera lake, with unusually organic-rich soil and strong daily lake winds.

Varieties

Bourbon Typica Caturra

Other regions in Guatemala

Antigua A high valley ringed by three volcanoes, and the country's most famous name. Huehuetenango The highest non-volcanic region, kept frost-free by dry winds off Mexico.

Sources

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