Guatemala Santa Isabel Filter

Tasting notes: Almond and dried apricot with a caramel finish.

Coffee breakdown:
Origin: Cobán, Guatemala, Guatemala
Variety: Caturra
Process: Washed

2026 marks 15 years of Market Lane buying coffee from Luis “Wicho” Valdés and his farm, Santa Isabel. The 300-hectare property sits in Guatemala’s Alta Verapaz department, where the lush rainforest, cool climate and plentiful rainfall create fantastic conditions for growing coffee.

In recent years, Wicho has taken steps to reduce his reliance on chemical outputs and non-organic materials, recognising that these can lead to a vicious cycle of soil degradation and the need for more inputs. Instead, he’s begun producing his own biofertiliser, which assists in making coffee plants more naturally resistant to disease and insects. As he puts it, “Instead of investing in medicine, we want to invest more in nutrition.” The results of this progressive approach have been significant. Wicho no longer uses pesticides, and his reliance on fungicides has more than halved. These new practices have led to healthier, more resilient trees that produce deliciously distinct and complex coffees.