All of Culpan's coffee is high-altitude Arabica. The species Coffea arabica has always been the most prized for its aromatic finesse and its balanced acidity, and it is the only one we grow on the farm. Altitude, the volcanic soil of the Santiaguito and natural shade make up the environment in which these varieties express their very best.

High-altitude Arabica coffee cherries ripening at Culpan

Why only Arabica coffee

The coffee genus includes many species, but only Arabica reaches the cup complexity we look for at Culpan. Unlike other, hardier species, Arabica thrives at altitude, ripens slowly and develops a profile of greater sweetness, a silky body and a bright, fruit-like acidity. That is why, generation after generation, the family has kept the farm fully dedicated to this kind of coffee.

Growing high-altitude Arabica demands patience. The bean takes longer to ripen than in lowland areas, and that slowness is precisely what concentrates the sugars and aromas inside the cherry. Culpan's philosophy, "patience makes the coffee", begins right at the choice of species.

Varieties of the Guatemalan tradition

Guatemala is recognised in the specialty coffee world for its classic Arabica varieties, grown for generations in the country's high-altitude regions. Among them stand out Bourbon, prized for its sweetness and round body; Caturra, a compact and productive variety with good yield; and Catuai, valued for its hardiness and balanced behaviour in the field.

These varieties share a common Arabica origin and, grown at altitude and under shade, offer clean, sweet cup profiles with a pleasant acidity. At Culpan we work within that tradition, choosing for each plot of the farm the varieties that best suit the microclimate of the Santiaguito slopes.

Culpan coffee field in bloom under natural shade

Altitude and shade as a signature

Beyond the name of each variety, what defines the character of Culpan coffee is the place where it grows. The plantation stretches between 1,371 and 1,524 metres above sea level, an altitude band that in Guatemala is associated with the finest coffees. At that height, cool nights slow ripening and let the bean gain density and sweetness.

The shade of the trees that share the land with the coffee protects the plants from intense sun, regulates temperature and nurtures a living soil. The result is a high-altitude green coffee, grown with respect for its surroundings, ready for roasters around the world to give it its final expression in the cup.

Discover Culpan green coffee

We grow high-altitude Arabica coffee and export it as green coffee. Get in touch to learn more about our varieties.