Guatemala FTO Quiche - Maya Ixil

Country:

Guatemala

Grade:

SHB, Strictly Hard Bean

Region:

El Quiche Department

Mark:

Fair Trade and Organic Certified

Processing:

Wet Process

Crop:

Sept 2006 Arrival

Appearance:

0 d/300gr, 17-18 Screen

Varietal:

Typica, Pache, Caturra, Catuai

Dry Fragrance (1-5)

3.3

Notes: Maya Ixil coffee cooperative is in the mountains of the tropical Ixcan region in the department of Quiche, Guatemala. It's an interesting region in Guatemala, where there are more small-holder farms than the large estate-oriented coffee cultures of Fraijanes, Antigua, or parts of Huehuetenango. And the farmers in the area are of ethnic Quiche Maya ancestry, maintaining a traditional way of life for the most part. The problem is that quality coffee requires some degree of training to avoid defects associated with old style traditional agronomy (for example, picking only ripe cherry, managing a good tree-to-hectare ratio, or avoiding the old practice of returning the mill water, laden with fermented coffee residue, to the streams.) In 1998, a group began to organize to form this coop and succeeded in gaining organic certification: It meant not only an improvement of the quality of life for the farmers, but also improvements for the environment through improved cultivation practices. Their coffee is grown under native shade trees, preserving local fruit and animal species. In 2004, Maya Ixil was certified Fair Trade coffee. Today, more than 124 Quiche Maya families represent Maya Ixil coffee cooperative and are gaining greater opportunities for business growth and community developments.

The dry fragrance has a hazelnut-to-almond character at City roast, and is sweet with mild chocolate (reminds me of Ghiradelli chocolate). There's a slightly rustic side to the sweetness of the wet aroma: it smells a bit like warm gingerbread and molasses. In cupping, when I break the cup there is a rush of fruit, papaya, melon. This is a distinct coffee from our other Guatemala offering for it's milder acidity, soft milk chocolate character, and clean fruited secondary flavors. I find papaya, passion fruit, and pineapple lurking in the background on this cup, with a slightly almond tone in the City+ roast and more chocolate at Full City.

Wet Aroma (1-5)

3.6

Brightness - Acidity (1-10)

8.3

Flavor - Depth (1-10)

8.6

Body - Mouthfeel (1-5)

3.6

Finish - Aftertaste (1-10)

8.5

Cupper's Correction (1-5)

0

Intensity/Prime Attribute: Medium intensity / Balanced, lower toned, nuts and chocolate

add 50

50

Roast: City + (once again) is where you will experience the most here, but I liked the more chocolaty roast taste at FC and FC+ too.

Score (Max. 100)

85.9

Compare to: Milder Central profile, not such a high-toned acidity as other Guatemala coffees. I felt like brewing this a bit strong benefited the cup.

Coffee Roasting & Brewing Log

Coffee Roasted:  Guatemala FTO Quiche - Maya Ixil

Roast Date:

02/04/07

Roaster:

Gene Cafe

Ambient Temp:

60º F, roasted in shop, used speed method

Roast Time:

6:00 PM

Roast Level:

FC

General Notes:  See profile below.

Batch Size:

229g

Total Roasted:

458g

Roasting Log

Batch #

1^st Crack

Roast Stopped

2^nd Crack

Roast

Stopped

Post-Roast

Weight (g)

Roasting Notes

Batch # 1

14:45

19:45

189

Good solid 1^st crack, long time to roast, accelerated 2^nd roast

Batch # 2

13:30

18:30

18:30

191

Outlier@13:30, good crack @14:00

Batch # 3

Batch # 4

Brewing Log

Date

Rested

Brew Method

Filter

Grind

Cupping Notes

02/06/07

2 days

Technivorm

Swissgold

MM 7.5

 Nice simple cup of coffee, mild acidity, undertone of chocolate, still developing

02/07/07

3 days

Technivorm

Swissgold

MM 7.5

 a little more developed 

02/08/07

4 days

Technivorm

Swissgold

MM 7.5

 a little more developed

02/09/07

5 Days

Technivorm

Swissgold

MM 7.5

 Pleasant, subtle chocolate/nutty tone with some mild brightness

 2/10/07

6 Days 

Gaggia 

Double 

 MM 3.5

 This coffee excelled as a single origin double espresso.  The milk chocolate was wonderful with just a hint of brightness to give it some snap.  Excellent.

Time

Temp

Note

Time

Temp

Note

Time

Temp

Note

Time

Temp

Note

Time

Temp

Note

Time

Temp

Note

00:30

04:30

08:30

12:30

471

16:30

20:30

01:00

05:00

Bump

09:00

13:00

482

17:00

21:00

01:30

05:30

354

09:30

13:30

Drop

17:30

21:30

02:00

06:00

388

10:00

Bump

14:00

Drop2

18:00

22:00

02:30

06:30

410

10:30

448

14:30

18:30

22:30

03:00

07:00

426

11:00

460

15:00

19:00

23:00

03:30

07:30

435

11:30

15:30

19:30

23:30

04:00

08:00

12:00

Bump

16:00

20:00

24:00