Guatemala COE 2025
The Guatemala Cup of Excellence 2025 international judging took place from June 1st to 5th, 2025, at ANACAFE in Guatemala City. 150 lots were entered, narrowed down to 90 after pre-selection to proceed to the national competition. In the national competition, the top 40 lots scoring 86 points or higher advanced to the international competition starting on June 1st. After three cupping sessions – first round, second round, and final – 30 lots were successfully awarded the Cup of Excellence.
The Guatemala Cup of Excellence introduced three categories: "One Of A Kind", "Exotic Washed", and "Exotic Natural & Honey". "One of A Kind" focused on traditional varieties, while "Exotic" covered what are commonly known as exotic varieties, with the "Exotic" category further divided into two based on processing methods.
Specifically, varieties considered "One of A Kind" include Bourbon, Typica, Caturra, Catuai, Pache, Sarchimor, and Catimor, while other varieties such as Pacamara, Geisha, and SL28 are classified as "Exotic". As a result, 8 lots were selected for Cup of Excellence from "One of A Kind", 12 from "Exotic Washed", and 10 from "Exotic Natural & Honey".
The auction was held on July 15th, and as in previous years, it was a highly popular auction in Central America, with buyers from around the world engaging in a heated live auction.
Granito De Oro
Finca Granito De Oro is located at an altitude of 1700m in Ojo Blanca, Cuilco, Huehuetenango, near the border with Mexico. This is a secluded, mountainous area even within Huehuetenango, boasting beautiful forests and clear streams managed by the local community. It also has very fertile soil, producing richly flavored coffee.
The farm was started around 1970 when father Felino Castillo and mother Carmela Villatoro planted coffee. Felino, who grew up and lived in Ojo Blanca, went to work in the United States at the time, sending money back to Ojo Blanca to support his family. A few years later, Felino returned home and purchased land in his hometown of Ojo Blanca. He pursued his dream of farming. He named the farm Bella Vista (beautiful view) after the clear waters and beautiful scenery from the forests on the farm.
Inherited Farm
Currently, his sons Arsenio and Wilmar have inherited the farm and operate three farms: Finca Granito De Oro, Finca Bella Vista, and Finca Vista al Bosque.
They grew up watching their father, Felino, passionately cultivate coffee, and at the age of 18, they inherited a portion of the coffee farm from their father, building their careers as coffee producers. Arsenio and Wilmar have both strived for quality improvement, introducing wet mills, installing drying tables, and in recent years, venturing into the latest processing methods such as honey, natural, and anaerobic fermentation, in addition to washed processes.
On the farms, they have also advanced replanting and plot organization to enhance productivity. Since 2010, they have also begun producing exotic varieties such as Pacamara, Maragogype, and Geisha, improving their cultivation techniques and coffee processing technology.
Granito De Oro primarily cultivates traditional varieties, including Yellow Bourbon, Yellow Caturra, Red Bourbon, and Red Caturra. Blessed with high altitude, fertile soil, and ample sunlight, even their traditional varieties produce coffee with wonderful flavors.
All three of their farms have won awards at the Cup of Excellence, and their family of producers is recognized worldwide as representatives of Ojo Blanca.
・Guatemala Cup of Excellence 2025 ONE OF A KIND Category 3rd Place (Score: 89.06)
- ・Lot Details →ACE Website
