Acatenango is one of the under appreciated growing regions of Guatemala. It has always been overshadowed by nearby Antigua, and in fact many Acatenango coffees were sold as Antigua lots for many years. In mill-mark Antiguas, this is still the case, since farmers who sell cherries or the collectors who round it up and bring it to the mill rarely respect such boundaries.
But Acatenango coffees come from some of the most beautiful farms in Guatemala, and San Diego Buena Vista is a case in point.
San Diego Buena Vista is grown in the Acatenango region, about 25 kilometers west of the town of Antigua. On this unique and diverse farm you will find not only coffee but avocados, peaches, and berries grown for sale at the local farmer’s market. Additionally, the farmers use a herd of goats for weed control.
Welcome to my Table, here in the corner of this cafe. Today we’re sipping the Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista, from Black Oak Coffee Roasters in Ukiah, California. Feel free to pull up a chair.
THE BASICS:
region: Acatenango, Guatemala
farm: Finca San Diego Buena Vista
producer: N/A
association: N/A
elevation: N/A
cultivars: Bourbon, Caturra
process: fully washed, patio dried
certifications: standard
THE BREW:
method: Hario V60
grind: 19 (Preciso)
coffee: 32 g
water: 425 mL
bloom: 1:00
pour: 1:30 pour, ~1:15-30 drop
THE COFFEE:
The aroma of the Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista is sweet and fragrant; sugary, fruity, and floral with scents of brown sugar, red apple, honey, and rose hips.
As I take my first few sips of the cup immediately post-brew, my palate is greeted by a very sweet, syrupy coffee. Fantastic flavors of caramel, honey, and vanilla envelope the tongue while bright and juicy red delicious apple streams down the center of the tongue, while brown sugar, graham cracker pie crust, and a cinnamon spiciness that nips at the tip and sides of the tongue.
As the cup cools, the apple gets even more intense, taking on a really sweet and scrumptious apple pie flavor. There’s also mellow notes of orange acidity, plum, apricot, and raisins that kick up in the back half of each sip, revealing almond in the finish.
=Medium body; syrupy mouthfeel; citrus acidity; slightly dry finish.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Black Oak Coffee’s Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista is a fantastically delicious cup of coffee. Sweet, juicy, and floral, it features the classic Guatemalan flavor profile.
It’s no secret that Guatemala is having a really difficult past couple of years, but we’ve been very fortunate here at the Table to try out some real standouts from the region. This offering from Black Oak Coffee certainly proves that, despite its troubles, Guatemala still has plenty to brag about it.
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Andrew is a husband, father, dog lover, craft beverage enthusiast, content creator, and niche market Internet celebrity. Formerly of A Table in the Corner of the Cafe and The Pulitzer Project and contributor to Barista Magazine and Mental Floss, he’s been writing on the Internet for years.