Photo courtesy of Guatemala Tourism Board
Whether you’re a casual coffee drinker or know your cold brew from your pour-overs, a visit to these top bean-producing destinations will provide unforgettable experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.
Guatemala
About the size of Ohio, Guatemala is one of the top coffee producers in the world, with most of its rich, medium-bodied product ending up in baristas’ hands in the larger coffee chains in the U.S. Guatemala has several coffee growing regions, each of which yields beans with different aromas and favors. The volcano-ringed Lake Atitlán in the Central Highlands rivals Italy’s Lake Como for dramatic backdrops and misty charm, and produces beans with floral acidity or a spicy-chocolaty favor. Crops from the mountainous areas near the Caribbean Sea or Pacific Ocean yield a lighter, fruitier acidity.
Where to stay: Check in to Relais & Chateauxmember Casa Palopó on Lake Atitlán, which has just nine rooms, and you can explore a dozen nearby Mayan lakeside villages, each with its own dialect, signature color and artisan traditions. shop for hand-woven textiles and other handmade goods, and then come back to impressively furnished rooms, gourmet eats, private terraces and in-room massages at the inn. Room rates start at $154 a nigh.
Photo courtesy of CasaPalopó
What to do: Have you ever seen a coffee tree, red with cherries, ready for harvest? Casa Palopó has partnered with coffee growers Finca Santo Thomas Perdido to provide an exclusive coffee-and-foodie experience for guests. Located on a nature preserve on the lower slopes of the Tolimán volcano, the sustainable plantation (whose product fuels many a Starbucks) includes coffee fields, cow pastures and an artisan cheese dairy. Learn all about the growing cycle from the white blossoms to the ripe red cherries that contain the beans, and then enjoy a feast of farm-made products and freshly brewed java.
Photo courtesy of Guatemala Tourism Board
Next: Tanzania ►
Tanzania
Arabica beans account for 70 percent of coffee grown around the world and is also Tanzania’s top coffee crop. It’s produced in the north of the country, specifically in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro and near the city of Arusha, the jumping-off point for many safaris and tours, as well as in the southwest near Mbeya and the Matengo Highlands. (Robusta, which makes up the other 30 percent, comes mainly from the Kagera region in the northwest.) More than 90 percent of the country’s coffee harvest is produced by small-batch farmers, and typically takes place between July and December.
Where to stay: Part of the boutique-chic Elewana collection of lodges, camps and hotels, Arusha Coffee Lodge is tucked into one of Tanzania’s largest coffee estates, just outside Arusha. The 30 free standing bungalows were built amongst the coffee trees, some in bloom with fragrant white flowers. The rest of the grounds include a swimming pool and a historic main house with a popular restaurant and bar. Honeymooners are treated to a complimentary pound of estate-grown coffee as a departure gift. Room rates start at $193 per person.
Photo courtesy of Elewana Collection
What to do: The hotel’s bean-to-cup tour ($30 per person) is a 90-minute introduction to the working coffee fields around the plantation and the growers, with an up-close look at their roasting and brewing techniques — followed by a tasting, of course. Not far away, in the village of Uru Mlawi near Mount Kilimanjaro, the Kahawa Shambani-Africa initiative helps farmers from three coffee plantations supplement their income by hosting visitors. Here, you’ll tour the growers’ co-op to learn about their history, fair trade practices and the picking/ grinding/roasting process. Meals with local families can also be arranged.
Next: Hawaii ►
Hawaii
Hundreds of farms can be found in the Kona “coffee corridor” on the big island, which stretches about two miles wide, and varies greatly in elevation. But while Kona is still the most recognized type of Hawaiian brew, coffee plantations and growers can also be found in other parts of the Big Island (including Puna and Hamakua), and estates have also popped up on Maui and Kaua’i. On Molokai, former pineapple plantations now yield aromatic beans.
Photo courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)/Tor Johnson
Where to stay: Following a $20 million refresh in 2012, the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay features 509 renovated rooms and suites, each with a balcony and a view of either the Pacific Ocean or the green slopes of Hualalai. And of course the in-room coffee maker is stocked with kona blends. After a day of snorkeling or biking around historic Kailua Village, it’s a treat to indulge in lomi-lomi massages and a dinner of fresh seafood at the re- sort. Room rates start at $179 a night.
Photo courtesy of Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
What to do: At the Kona Coffee Living History Farm, be-costumed “coffee pioneers” interact with visitors and provide hands-on educational history and activities. The free farm tour at Greenwell Farms walks you through the fields and processing facilities, followed by some sip-worthy samples. For those who can’t get to the Big Island, the new Honolulu coffee experience center brings Kona coffee to Oahu, with savory exhibits, tastings and installations.
Photo courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)/Dana Edmunds
Next: Nicaragua ►
Nicaragua
Thanks to Nicaragua’s temperate climate, rich vegetation and fertile volcanic soil, coffee is one of the country’s most significant exports. Ninety-five percent of its coffee is grown in its north-central mountain regions around Matagalpa and Jinotega, where the misty cloud forest canopies create the perfect atmosphere for growing aromatic beans. large and small plantations (known as fincas) and co-operatives operate around the country, many of which are multi-generational family businesses. Harvest usually takes place between November and February.
Where to stay: Set in a historic hacienda in the colonial city of Granada, the seven-room Tribal Hotel has an eclectic décor and a spectacular bijou pool and four-poster day beds. Soak up the romance of the torch-lit courtyard over tapas and cocktails. Room rates start at $95 a night. For a taste of what it’s like to live in a cloud forest, stay at the Selva Negra Ecolodge, a family-run hotel and coffee estate owned by fifth-generation coffee growers just 90 miles from Granada. Located in the highlands around Matagalpa, it has 23 bungalows and chalets located on garden paths that lead directly to mountain trails. Take hikes or a horseback ride into the rainforest to spot howler monkeys and rare orchids, and refuel with gourmet organic meals provided by the farm. Bungalows start at $85 a night.
What to do: At Selva Negra, the coffee tour and tasting takes you from seed to coffee mug. The process, from planting, picking and rack drying to milling is revealed, plus there’s an on-site coffee museum. The best time for a coffee tour in this region is from November to February. For an excursion closer to Granada, take a tour of Café Las Flores, where they hand-pick their shade-grown coffee on the slopes of the Mombacho Volcano.
Photo Credit: Susie Campbell