Back to the Basics with Guatemala Huehuetengo Hoja Blanca
Do you remember how cold and wet it was during the last few weeks of 2021? No matter how fired up our roasting machine was, how many space heaters we had on at full blast, or how many staff members we had buzzing around trying to fulfill orders in time for the holidays, all of these combined couldn’t cut through the cold that made itself comfortable in our roastery. Every single one of us in the building wore long socks and several layers paired with a hot, hot cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate to keep our hands warm. And almost every day, there was at least one person who said, “Ahh! It’s so cold today!”
As someone who has gotten used to the relatively easy-going temperatures in the Bay Area, it’s strange for me to admit I welcomed this drafty air with open arms. I was particularly excited for my mid-morning walks during those days. Nothing–absolutely nothing–can replace the feeling of being warmly dressed as Jack Frost is nipping beyond the perimeter of your nose. We’re a month into 2022, and I’ve tried to remain a realistic optimist with regard to how the world would look and feel this time of year. I’ve always believed that we’re in this for the long haul and for much, much longer than any of us have anticipated. To keep myself afloat, I’ve been giving more appreciation towards things I often take for granted: wearing comfortable sneakers, sharing a meal with a small group of people, walking through the farmers markets and tasting all the citrus fruits in season, being able to feel winter on my face while keeping the rest of my body warm, just to name a few. As I add them all up, I’m reminded that there are still many little joys I can experience when days start to feel tired and mundane. Sometimes, it’s nice to know that I can rely on simple things to help remind me that I’m still human.
From time to time, it’s helpful to go back to things with no extra frills. To translate this into our single origin offerings, we like to lean on flavors that many think of when describing coffee: rich, chocolatey, sometimes nutty. As we part ways with our Mexico Bella Vista offering, we welcome another smooth sailing coffee from the Hoja Blanca Community in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. This coffee comes from Onyx Green Coffee Importers: a company owned by third generation coffee farmer Edwin Martinez. His family has been farming in Huehuetenango since 1957, and Onyx has been working with neighboring farmers and communities like Hoja Blanca to help them access the specialty coffee market. They purchase single lots directly from producers each year, and their QC team in Guatemala evaluates dozens of lots over the course of harvest to build the Hoja Blanca community coffee lot.
This offering is a lot that combines the coffee of 12 farmers in Hoja Blanca. It’s sweet, easygoing, and has tasting notes of apple chips, caramel, and hazelnut. It reminds me of the time I was a college student and went to a local cafe alone to treat myself to a hazelnut breve latte when I was feeling blasé. Sure, I went for the beverage, but I think what gave me a greater sense of fulfillment was finding a space where I could sit and just enjoy a nice coffee. Having that time to reflect and appreciate what was in front of me helped me walk out the door and think, “you know, the sky is really nice today.” If you’re in need of a gentle reminder that there’s still some good stuff to experience out in the world, this coffee might be for you.