San Patricio El Limón: A Family-Run Jewel in Palencia, Guatemala
Tucked into the rolling hills of Palencia, just a short drive east of Guatemala City, lies San Patricio El Limón - a coffee farm that’s as much about family and community as it is about exceptional coffee. Owned and operated since the late 1990s by Guadalupe “Beto” Reyes and his family, this farm is a shining example of what happens when passion, innovation, and collaboration come together.
Beto’s approach to coffee is rooted in care and curiosity. A desire to experiment is one of the big reasons that we love buying from San Patricio El Limón; we've been getting coffee from them since first introduced seven years ago by our mutual friend Raul Rodas (2012 World Barista Champion), and they're just getting more awesome each year.
El Limon is eighteen hectares in size and sits at an altitude between 1,350 to 1,850 meters above sea level. The farm mainly produces Caturra and Bourbon but has also started growing SL28, H1, H3, Maracaturra, Maragogype, Geisha, Pacamaras, Caturras and Catuaí (yellow and red).
In addition, around 8 water reservoirs have been built around the entire farm to preserve this vital resource and help ensure the sustainability of the farm. Over the years, the family has invested heavily in infrastructure: rebuilding the wet mill, adding a QC lab, constructing a new warehouse, and even building accommodations for workers.
The farm is located roughly an hour's drive to the east of Guatemala City in the small town of Palencia, which Beto also happens to be Mayor of! He has helped to build and develop the town alongside running his farm - honestly have no idea how he finds enough hours in the day, what a guy!
Palencia isn’t one of the country’s eight officially recognised coffee-growing regions, and names like Antigua, Huehuetenango, and Cobán tend to dominate the conversation, but Palencia is quietly carving out its own identity. This is thanks in large part to the work of the Reyes family. With its high altitudes, volcanic soil, and temperate climate, Palencia has all the natural ingredients for producing exceptional coffee. What it lacks in historical recognition, it makes up for in innovation and community spirit.
Beto’s commitment to experimentation has led to a range of natural and hybrid process lots, including Pacamara and Caturra. Their 2021 Naturally processed Pacamara earned a top 15 placement in the Guatemala Cup of Excellence - a notable achievement that reflects both the quality of his coffees and the growing recognition of alternative processing methods in the region.
Natural processing remains relatively uncommon in Guatemala, where Washed methods dominate, but producers like Beto Reyes at San Patricio El Limón are helping to shift that narrative. The family have operated their own wet mill since the very beginning, so that they can separate different lots and have control over the quality of the coffee. Run by Beto’s brother Felix, they are able to process many lots simultaneously and keep separate days' pickings, processes, and varietals in their own parcels - ensuring traceability and consistency in every cup. The wet mill also benefits the local community as neighbours within the region of Palencia also bring their coffees to the mill to be processed.
- Country: Guatemala
- Region: Palencia
- Farm: San Patricio El Limon
- Farmer: Guadalupe Alberto 'Beto' Reyes Aguilar
- Altitude: 1,350-1,850 m.a.s.l.
- Farm size: 18 hectares
