Cobán · Variety
Catuai in Cobán
Cobán is known for rainforest coffee from guatemala's cloud-soaked north, and Catuai is one of the varieties behind that reputation. The region's farms sit at 1,300–1,500 m — Catuai's preferred range is 900–1,800 m — and harvest runs december – march, the window in which the variety's character is decided in the field.
Catuai brings its own agronomic personality to Cobán: a compact, wind-resistant plant with high yield potential, and disease behavior best summarized as susceptible to rust. Regional processing leans on washed, which shapes how the variety's raw material reaches the cup.
Tasted side by side with the same variety from other regions, Cobán's expression stands apart: the variety contributes chocolate, almond, mild red fruit, while the regional cup runs toward fresh fruit, wine, and spice with a wet-stone minerality; gentle acidity wrapped in misty-climate softness. That interaction — genetics times place — is exactly what regional sourcing is about.
Key facts
| Region | Cobán |
|---|---|
| Country | Guatemala |
| Region altitude | 1,300–1,500 m |
| Variety optimal altitude | 900–1,800 m |
| Harvest | December – March |
| Species | Arabica |
| Lineage | Caturra × Mundo Novo, bred by IAC Brazil (released 1972) |
| Disease resistance | Susceptible to rust |
| Regional cup profile | Fresh fruit, wine, and spice with a wet-stone minerality; gentle acidity wrapped in misty-climate softness. |
Catuai in Cobán — frequently asked questions
Does Catuai grow well in Cobán?
Yes — the region's 1,300–1,500 m range overlaps the variety's preferred 900–1,800 m, and local processing traditions (washed) suit its characteristics. It is one of the varieties Cobán is known for.
What does Cobán Catuai taste like?
Expect chocolate, almond, mild red fruit, expressed through the region's typical character: fresh fruit, wine, and spice with a wet-stone minerality; gentle acidity wrapped in misty-climate softness.
When is Catuai from Cobán harvested?
The regional harvest runs december – march; fresh lots typically reach export markets one to three months after milling.
Volcana Coffee grows high-altitude Catimor, Typica, and washed Fine Robusta in our own volcanic region — the Bolaven Plateau, Laos. Compare our terroir against any region in the world, cup to cup.
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