ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA
The Antigua region is very special to Coffee Bird as it is where the Dalton Family’s coffee story began. It is where Manuel Matheu - Marta and Alex’s great great great grandfather - pioneered Guatamalan coffee with his nephew in 1864.
The coffee region of Antigua is spread across a valley surrounded by three volcanoes, Agua (Water), Acatenango, and Fuego (Fire). The coffee grown in Antigua is enriched by the volcanic soil and tends to hold moisture well. The main shade tree used in Antigua is the gravilea, which helps protect the coffee from frost.
The main town in the region is also called Antigua. It is a cultural center for tourism, as it is the ancient capital of both the Mayans and the country of Guatemala. The increase in tourism has attracted a lot of locals and foreigners to live in the town. The demographic pressures create a demand for property in the region, and as such, farmers are enticed with lucrative property offers to sell their land. The key to keeping coffee in the region is to ensure farmers are being rewarded for the quality they are producing.