Guatemala Jabiru Union Cantinil

A beautifully balanced single-origin coffee from the high mountains of western Guatemala.

From the mist-covered mountains of Huehuetenango, Guatemala, this washed Arabica is grown by smallholder farming families who cultivate coffee on tiny hillside plots at elevations of 1,500–1,800 metres. The result is a wonderfully clean, sweet and expressive cup with vibrant citrus brightness balanced by rich chocolate and caramel sweetness.

Roasted to a medium profile, this coffee delivers exceptional versatility—equally at home as a morning filter coffee, an elegant espresso, or paired with milk for a silky flat white.

Quick Overview

Varieties - Bourbon, Caturra, Catuai & Pache

Process - Washed

Roast - Medium

The Cup

This is the sort of coffee that feels effortlessly balanced.

The first sip brings bright apple and citrus freshness before layers of dark chocolate, red grape, toffee, and caramel build into a rounded finish. Its medium-to-full body gives enough richness for espresso while the washed processing keeps everything remarkably clean and vibrant.

Acidity - Bright & lively

Body - Medium to full

Tasting Notes

Dark Chocolate, Red Grape, Toffee, Caramel, Apple, Citrus

Aroma - Sweet chocolate and fruit-forward aromatics with delicate floral undertones create an inviting fragrance before the first sip.

About Union Cantinil

Union Cantinil sits in one of Guatemala’s most respected coffee-growing regions, close to the Mexican border in the rugged Sierra de los Cuchumatanes mountains. Unlike Guatemala’s famous volcanic regions, Huehuetenango combines high elevations with limestone-rich mountain soils, cool nights and warm sunny days.

These dramatic temperature swings slow the ripening of the coffee cherries, allowing sugars and flavour compounds to develop gradually. That’s one of the reasons coffees from this region are renowned for their clarity, sweetness and elegant acidity.

The People Behind the Coffee

Rather than coming from one large estate, this lot is created from coffee grown by smallholder farmers, many managing farms of around 1–2 hectares.

To help these remote producers access international markets, local buying stations and micro-warehouses have been established throughout Union Cantinil. These centres allow farmers to sell closer to home, reduce transport costs and improve quality control while keeping more value within local communities.

Many producers also benefit from initiatives such as Coffee Kinders, MOCCA, and FORCAFE, programmes designed to support farming families through education, childcare and agricultural training.

From Cherry to Cup

This coffee is washed processed, a method prized for producing exceptionally clean and vibrant cups.

The process follows several careful stages:

1. Ripe cherries are hand-picked.
2. The fruit is removed using small depulping machines.
3. Beans ferment overnight to naturally remove remaining fruit.
4. They are thoroughly washed.
5. Finally, they’re sun-dried on patios until reaching the perfect moisture level.

The result is outstanding clarity, allowing the chocolate sweetness and bright fruit notes to shine through beautifully.

Roast Profile

We’ve chosen a medium roast to showcase everything that makes this coffee special.

Rather than chasing heavy roast flavours, this profile preserves the lively citrus and apple notes while developing a luxurious caramel and dark chocolate sweetness that lingers long after the final sip.

Best Brew Methods

Espresso - Balanced sweetness with rich chocolate depth and a vibrant finish.

Filter - Highlights the coffee’s clarity, citrus brightness and layered complexity.

Milk Drinks - Maintains structure beautifully while complementing milk’s natural sweetness.

Batch Brew & Pour Over - Delivers a clean, expressive cup that’s easy to enjoy all day.

Coffee Facts

Altitude - 1,500–1,800 masl

Grade - SHB EP (Strictly Hard Bean, European Preparation)

Process - Washed

Harvest - October – March

Why We Chose It

Guatemala produces some of the world’s most consistently elegant coffees, and Union Cantinil is a perfect example of why.

This isn’t an overpowering coffee—it wins you over with balance. Bright enough to keep every cup interesting, sweet enough to drink black with ease, and rich enough to stand up beautifully in milk, it’s a coffee that works from the first brew of the morning to the last espresso after dinner.

For us at The Cracking Bean, it’s exactly what a great everyday specialty coffee should be: complex without being complicated.