From Guatemala, we bring you one of the most exclusive and delicious coffees: Guatemala Finca El Frutal. Efraín Castillo purchased El Frutal, a 10-manzana farm (i.e. 1.7 acres/0.7 hectares), in 2004. The farm is located in Huehuetenango, the famous Guatemalan coffee-producing region, which offers the highest altitudes in...

It is often assumed that measuring quality where different types of coffee beans are concerned is all about Arabica coffee vs Robusta coffee. In reality, it is nothing of the sort. In fact, it is perfectly possible for a cup of gourmet coffee made with Robusta beans to be significantly better than a low-quality Arabica coffee blend... 

On several occasions, we have discussed how neither Arabica nor Robusta beans can be declared ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than the other. Both have the potential to produce an extraordinary cup of coffee, catering to the tastes and preferences of their own unique audiences. True gourmet coffee can be produced using either, or a...  

Ask almost anyone to choose between the two main types of coffee beans and most will instinctively gravitate towards arabica coffee. Ever since coffee became a widely available commercial product, it has been assumed that arabica coffee is superior in every way. An assumption perpetuated by the vast majority of...  

You’ll find that something which really grind the gears of most coffee connoisseurs is the prevalence of blends. Something that applies to whole bean coffee as well as ground – both of which are sold as blends, more often than not. Even the best coffee beans in the world find their way into blends, which in some instances sell for surprisingly high prices. The appeal of single origin coffee is... 

Getting your head around the whole gourmet coffee movement for the first time can be a little on the daunting side. Once you’ve made sense of the hundreds of different types of coffee beans available, you’ve then the small matter of roast level to factor in. Whether opting for the highest-quality Arabic coffee from an artisan producer or a more affordable Robusta coffee blend from a local store... 

Ask an extensive group of gourmet coffee fans which is better and chances are the overwhelming majority will tell you always arabica coffee. Likewise, a solid proportion of sellers and specialists instinctively prioritize arabica coffee over different types of coffee beans. We’re technically no exception to the rule, given how all gourmet coffee variants we stock and sell are indeed arabica coffee...