It’s finally here! The long-awaited dream has just come out of our roastery! WINTER Espresso 2023 edition!
Table of contents:
- What does WINTER Espresso taste like?
- Origin of the beans
- Growing conditions in the Fraijanes region
- Rabanales farm
- The beginnings of Finca Rabanales
- Rabanales and Coffee Bird partnership
- Winter coffees at JAVA Coffee
We always look forward to our winter espresso with excitement. This year was no different. Every year it’s the same story—impatient anticipation, counting the days. As if we couldn’t learn that it will come anyway… But let’s be honest: “Rafaaaaaaał, when are we finally launching Winter?” has already become a tradition. Rafał probably wouldn’t know how to function in a world where he didn’t have to answer that question 15,474,814 times every November. But to the point—we’ve got it. And what a coffee it is! GUATEMALA Rabanales—warming, sweet, soothing to the senses and energizing like nothing else. Yes, this coffee deserves exactly that kind of introduction. Our Winter is made from Bourbon 8 beans processed using the White Honey method—pure delight. No exaggeration—this coffee is a serious dose of deliciousness, and we recommend grabbing it sooner rather than later, because we don’t think it will stay long in our roastery.
What will you find in a cup of Winter?
What does winter espresso taste like? The best! This year’s WINTER Espresso is a Bourbon arabica processed using the White Honey method at Rabanales farm. Its sensory profile is a concentration of all the winter flavors you know and love. In the cup, you’ll discover sweet notes of hazelnut enhanced by juicy orange and pleasantly tart-sweet cranberry. Everything is perfectly balanced by the aroma of dark cocoa.
Where does WINTER Espresso come from?
Finca Rabanales is a farm that has belonged to the Ventura family for many generations. It is located in Guatemala, in the Fraijanes region. Fraijanes is characterized by high rainfall, high altitude, and fluctuating humidity, which do not create ideal conditions for growing coffee. But it is what it is—you have to adapt. Fortunately, during the dry season, Fraijanes enjoys plenty of sunshine. Strong sunlight helps dry the morning mist and dew, preventing damage to the plants, which would otherwise struggle in such humid conditions and become more susceptible to disease.
In what conditions does our coffee grow?
An important aspect of the region is that Guatemala has three active volcanoes, one of which—Pacaya, located near our farm—is still active. It occasionally releases ash and erupts from time to time, but overall it does a great job enriching the soil. As a result, the soil is highly fertile, full of minerals and nutrients essential for growing coffee and other crops.
Suitable land for coffee cultivation in Fraijanes is gradually shrinking due to demographic pressure. The proximity to the capital increases land value as the city expands. Recently, many farms in the region have been sold for development. Fortunately, Finca Rabanales is holding strong—and we hope it stays that way, because the coffee produced there is of the highest quality. After drinking our Winter espresso by the liter, we can confirm that with full confidence.
Finca Rabanales
Many years ago, exactly five generations ago, Don Gregorio Zamora founded Finca Rabanales. Today, the farm is run by his great-great-grandchildren, Rafael and Maria Elena, who personally oversee operations, ensure equipment efficiency, and maintain product quality—Maria Elena is responsible for cupping, while Rafael manages the technical side.
Owner of Finca Rabanales – Pascual Lopez Domingo
The beginnings of Rabanales farm
In its early days under Don Gregorio, the farm did not start with coffee—it originally focused on livestock. The first coffee tree was planted in 1894. From the moment coffee cultivation began, each successive owner aimed to produce only the highest-quality beans. The Ventura family set their goal on sharing specialty-grade coffee with the world, building recognition through quality.
The beginnings in the coffee sector were not easy for the Venturas. A sudden drop in coffee prices in 1980 led them to shift from a purely business-driven approach to focusing on quality and entering the specialty coffee market. They knew they had high-quality coffee but didn’t know how to market or sell it effectively. This is where Coffee Bird—a distributor and coffee producer—stepped in. Rafael says they owe their current position in the specialty market and their ability to expand and grow to this partnership.
Finca Rabanales and Coffee Bird
Coffee Bird and Rabanales began working together in 2014. Today, Rabanales is one of the few coffee producers in Guatemala operating at this level. We sincerely wish them continued success and growth, because the coffees they produce are of outstanding quality and deserve recognition worldwide.
|
|
Discover the winter offer at JAVA Coffee!
If you want to see for yourself that we’re not exaggerating, visit our store and grab your own pack of WINTER Espresso today! You can buy Guatemala Rabanales on its own or treat yourself to the full winter set—Winter Espresso, Xmas Special, and the December Coffee of the Month: Ethiopia Boji Wibeti. Let yourself be carried away this winter and indulge your senses with exceptional coffee experiences. Satisfaction guaranteed!
