Description
“Waykan” is a regional coffee blend from the Huehuetenango region of Guatemala, comprised of beans from various smallholder producers. The name “Waykan” is derived from the Maya Q’qnjobal dialect in the region, meaning “star, or light that shines in the sky at night.” This name perfectly captures the coffee’s bright and vibrant character. Huehuetenango is one of Guatemala’s most famous coffee-growing regions, known for producing some of the country’s most distinguished coffees.
History
Coffee cultivation in Guatemala began in the late 18th century. The government incentivized European immigrants to establish plantations, and by the late 1800s, Guatemala was a significant coffee exporter. The Huehuetenango region, located in the western highlands near the border with Mexico, has a unique geography. Unlike other major coffee regions in Guatemala, it lacks volcanic soil. Instead, the high altitude and dry, warm winds from the Mexican plains create a special microclimate that protects the coffee plants from frost and allows for exceptional growth. The majority of coffee producers in Huehuetenango are smallholder farmers, and coffee accounts for a significant portion of the local economy. The “Waykan” designation represents a movement in the specialty coffee world to showcase the unique “terroir” of a specific region, in this case, Huehuetenango. Importers and roasters work with many small-scale producers in the area, cupping their coffees and blending lots that meet a high quality standard. This process ensures a consistent and high-quality regional profile, while also providing a stable market and fair premiums for the small farmers who are the backbone of the region’s coffee industry