Puerta Verde - Bourbon

Description

This washed Bourbon comes from Finca Puerta Verde in Antigua, Guatemala, produced by Ricardo Zelaya. I had the opportunity to cup this coffee at origin with Ricardo and Billy from Common Goal Coffee, tasting through more than 20 lots from Ricardo’s farms, including Santa Clara, Pulcal, and Puerta Verde. I didn’t get the chance to visit Finca Puerta Verde, but this lot stood out with slight herbal notes and bright acidity. Finca Puerta Verde – Antigua, Guatemala Perched at 1,540 metres above sea level in the Panchoy Valley just outside Ciudad Vieja, Puerta Verde benefits from the deep volcanic soils, clean water, and consistent climate that make Antigua one of Guatemala’s most celebrated coffee-growing regions. The farm's name, meaning green door, reflects its lush setting and the sense of threshold it represents, into a place of both natural abundance and careful cultivation. Puerta Verde has been part of the Zelaya family's legacy since 1999. While the operation is overseen by Ricardo Zelaya, a fourth-generation producer and one of the most respected names in Guatemalan coffee, the day-to-day work is carried out by an experienced and deeply knowledgeable team. Marcos Rompiche, the farm's administrator, represents the third generation of his family to work on the land, with over two decades of hands-on experience. Alongside him is Israel Yool, the production manager, who also grew up with the farm and brings 16 years of insight. Together, they know every pocket of the farm’s terrain, the subtle changes in elevation, microclimate, and soil that influence each lot. Since taking over, Ricardo and his team have methodically renewed Puerta Verde’s 39 hectares. Today, about 60% of the farm is planted in Caturra and 20% in Bourbon, with the remaining area home to more unique varieties like Villa Sarchi and Bourboncito. This focused approach to varietal selection is part of Ricardo’s wider commitment to quality, pairing the right cultivar with the land to produce coffees that are not just excellent, but distinctive. The Zelayas are equally committed to sustainability. Shade trees like Gravilea protect the coffee plants, support healthy soils, and create habitat for local wildlife. The wet mill uses sedimentation tanks to protect waterways, and all by-products from processing are repurposed, coffee pulp becomes rich humus via worm composting, and water use is carefully managed and reused wherever possible. It’s a thoughtful, closed-loop system that reflects Ricardo’s belief that high-quality coffee and responsible stewardship go hand-in-hand. We’ve been buying Ricardo's coffees through Common Goal since we started in 2015, and it’s an honour to have coffees from both Puerta Verde and the more widely known Santa Clara farm in our offerings. His dedication, paired with the skill and knowledge of his team, consistently yields exceptional lots that reflect the best of Antigua.