Darwin Fabian is one of a new generation of Guatemalan farmers, deeply immersed in the entire coffee production process. As the lead cupper and roaster in his QC lab, Darwin works closely with our exporter, Eduardo Ambrocio, gaining a front-row seat to the innovation shaping the coffee industry. This unique exposure has empowered Darwin to bring fresh perspectives to the traditional culture of Guatemalan coffee, and his natural Pache offering is one of our first from Guatemala.
El Calagual, Darwin's pride and joy, is a modest 4.5-hectare farm located in the small village of Concepción Zacuapa, in the Santa Rosa municipality. Darwin's family has been farming coffee since the 1890s, with each generation building upon the progress of the last. For decades, Darwin's father, Bonifacio Fabian, sold the farm's coffee to local commercial markets at low prices. However, Darwin's studies in agronomy opened his eyes to the farm's potential for producing high-end specialty coffee. Recognizing the unique high-altitude environment and distinct microbiome of El Calagual, Darwin convinced his father to allow him to experiment with new varieties and natural processing methods.
One of Darwin’s most notable achievements has been the cultivation of the Pache variety, a rare natural derivation of Typica. Discovered in Guatemala in 1949, Pache is a less common variety, similar to Bourbon or Caturra, but more susceptible to diseases like Leaf Rust and Coffee Berry Disease. Despite its challenges, Pache thrives at high altitudes and offers exceptional cup quality. Darwin’s naturally processed Pache coffee is carefully dried on raised beds for 24 days, resulting in a rich, complex cup with notes of stone fruit and raspberry yogurt.
Darwin is not just a coffee producer; he is an explorer, always looking towards new horizons and driven by a vision for the future of coffee. His commitment to innovation and quality makes him an ideal partner for us, and we are excited to continue this partnership for years to come. As we move forward together, we anticipate many more exciting discoveries from Darwin and Finca El Calagual.
