Tasting notes: Tangerine, dried apricot, nougat, caramel.

Coffee breakdown:
Origin: El Aguacate, 1750masl, Agua Dulces, Huehuetenango, Guatemala, Guatemala
Variety: Washed
Process: Washed
Producer: Arlam Aguirre
Altitude: 1750 masl

Arlam (via his wife Yoesmi Martinez) is a member of a very special co-operative of smallholders who are working collectively to farm more ecologically, improve coffee quality and access final buyers. Small Batch was in fact the first importer to purchase directly from the group, called ASIAST, Asociación Integral Agrícola Sostenible Toneca (Toneca is a colloquial adjective for San Antonio Huista where the co-op is based).

Asiast producers, while continuing to use minimal amounts of conventional fertilisers, are also implementing really exciting ecological processes (it's a drought prone area, experiencing the increased effect of climate change). Small Batch has seen terracing and planting in contour lines to capture water and avoid soil erosion; planting of groundcover crops in between rows of coffee plants to retain water; planting native shade trees; composting systems and organic fertilization.