Guatemala and El Salvador, 2018

15 photos

The trip group under the yellow arch in Antigua with a volcano behind — The 2018 group in Antigua.

Parchment coffee drying on clay patios below tiled roofs, volcanoes behind — Parchment drying on clay patios at Finca Filadelfia, Antigua.

A hand holding coffee cherries, dry parchment, green beans and roasted beans in a row — The four stages: cherry, dry parchment, green coffee, roasted beans.

Pale parchment and dark natural coffee drying on separate patios — Washed parchment behind, natural coffee in front, at Finca El Capetillo.

The group beside a van on a cobbled road with a volcano behind — At Finca Filadelfia, with the Agua volcano behind.

Visitors standing on a dirt path between coffee trees — Visiting the plantation at Finca Filadelfia.

The group in orange safety vests in front of towering stacks of coffee sacks — The Fedecocagua dry mill in Palín.

Two workers kneeling over a tarp of red cherries, sorting by hand — Hand sorting cherries at Finca La Florida, Santa Ana.

The group walking a dirt track under tall trees — Walking the La Florida farm.

A coffee tree heavy with orange cherries — Orange Bourbon at Finca La Florida.

Four people standing outside an office building — At J. Hill with general manager Mario Mendoza and Gabriela Flores of quality control.

Natural cherries drying in long rows on a brick patio under a blue sky — Sun drying natural arabica at J. Hill, Santa Ana.

Rows of seedling tables under green shade netting — The J. Hill nursery, where new arabica varieties are developed.

Visitors tasting from cupping spoons around a table — Cupping session at J. Hill.

Visitors bent over a long cupping table set with glasses and sample trays — Cupping session at CAFCOM.

Trip notes

Antigua

A city in Guatemala's central highlands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to world-famous coffee plantations such as Filadelfia and El Capetillo.

Fedecocagua

The federation of cooperatives, representing about 20,000 small producers. The group toured its dry mill in Palín.

J. Hill, Santa Ana

J. Hill is developing many new arabica varieties and hybrids to raise yields and resistance to disease and climate change, in partnership with World Coffee Research.