Guatemala: El Limon, Bourbon, Natural

Expect a super sweet cup of strawberry jam! There's red cherries on the finish and aftertaste, as well as a very delicate sultana note.

This naturally processed Bourbon comes from San Patricio El Limón - a family-run farm in Palencia, Guatemala, led by Guadalupe Alberto “Beto” Reyes. Beto’s approach to coffee is rooted in care and curiosity. He’s constantly experimenting with processing and varietals, and this lot is a great example of that spirit.

We’ve been working with Beto and his family since 2013, and their commitment to quality continues to impress. San Patricio El Limón sits just outside Guatemala City in Palencia - a region not officially recognised among Guatemala’s eight designated coffee-growing areas, but one that consistently produces standout coffees. The farm is surrounded by forest, cooled by elevation, and rich in volcanic soils. Bourbon trees are carefully managed, and cherries are picked at peak ripeness before being dried slowly on raised beds. It’s a hands-on, detail-driven approach that shows in the cup.

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. At El Limón, ripe cherries are selectively harvested, meticulously sorted, and dried slowly on raised beds with the fruit still intact. This careful, hands-on approach allows sugars and compounds from the pulp to infuse into the bean, enhancing sweetness and complexity.

Beto’s commitment to experimentation has led to a range of natural and hybrid process lots, including Pacamara and Caturra. His 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. The result of El Limon's natural processing is often a fuller-bodied, fruit-forward cup with more complexity and sweetness - and this lot is a great example of that.

• 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: 9 hectares
• Varietal: Bourbon
• Processing method: Natural

Tasting notes: Strawberry jam, red cherry, sultana.

Cup of Excellence Cupping Scores

• Clean cup: (1–8): 6.5
• Sweetness: (1–8): 6.5
• Acidity: (1–8): 6
• Mouthfeel: (1–8): 6.5
• Flavour: (1–8): 6
• Aftertaste: (1–8): 6
• Balance: (1–8): 6.5
• Overall: (1–8): 6.5
• Correction: (+36): +36
• Total: (max. 100): 86.5

Roast Information
Medium - A nice steady pace, pushing it through the gap and just up to the cusp of second but not into it.