DETAILS
Ixlama comes from the department of Huehuetenango near the Guatemala-Mexico border, a region known for its rugged landscapes, high elevation, and for the 22 ethnic groups of Mayan descent who call this community home. Consisting of 50% Bourbon and 50% Caturra varietals, this coffee was shade-grown at an elevation of 1,524 to 1,830 meters above sea level.
Ixlama is harvested and brought to a mill at Caserio Teogal Aldea San Martin. At the mill, coffees are sun-dried on cement patios for four days before being placed in “guardiolas,” a type of coffee dryer patented by a Guatemalan resident in 1872. The coffees are then computer-sorted by color and separated by density mechanically, resulting in a superior, clean, and bright cup.
ABOUT THE COFFEE
FLAVOR
Pear, Raisin, Chocolate
AROMA
Brown Sugar, Chocolate, Raisin
BODY
Medium
FINISH
Malt, Chocolate
Buying Practices
WHAT WE VALUE
“Sunergos” is a Greek word meaning “co-laborer” or “working together.” This is a good representation of our farm-to-cup mentality, celebrating the collaboration necessary for the creation of fantastic coffee. We hold firmly to the value that coffee is not merely a commodity. Rather, it is an integral part of cultures and communities and is the economic livelihood of families the world over. “Good Coffee,” then, is not only a description of the quality of a cup, but a statement of responsibility and sustainability.
QUALITY
There are innumerable factors that go into the production costs of great coffee. A few of these are sustainable growing practices, good laborers who pick the ripest cherries, and consistent and controllable processing to remove the coffee seeds from those cherries. True in every craft, more effort and expertise costs more money. Production of the best quality coffees necessities higher pricing and the ability to sustain those efforts requires the same. For this reason, we buy great coffees whose quality merits its price. The specialty coffee industry is built on these principles and we are proud to be a part of this global economy.
ECONOMIC RESPONSIBILITY
The question, “Are your coffees Fair Trade?” is a common one. The answer is “yes” and “no”. Some of our coffees carry the certification though we don’t indicate such certifications on our packaging. All of our coffees are fairly traded. We are proud to say that our least expensive coffees are purchased at an average price over 145% of Fair Trade™. our seasonals and many other coffees in our lineup are well beyond that percentage. This doesn’t mean you’ll find over-priced coffees in our offerings. After all, fair goes both ways.
SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS
We believe in embracing the expertise of each part of the coffee supply chain. This spreads from coffee growers to exporters, importers, roasters, and retail partners. For this reason, we work with buying partners who share our values of quality and economic responsibility. Together we are able to practice in long-standing relationships with large and small growers and contribute toward infrastructure that creates sustainability. In the end, we understand that our work and its impact goes well beyond the limits of our view. For this reason we choose to buy exceptional coffees in a manner that we are confident is responsible, sustainable, and results in tremendous quality. In this way, we have worked to bring good coffee to you. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.