Guatemala San José del Lago Marcellesa – Washed

Chocolate, red fruit, and molasses come together in a creamy, silky, and remarkably consistent cup. This lot reveals the elegant side of Marcellesa: a variety developed to provide resilience in the field without sacrificing clarity, sweetness, or sensory quality.

Washed processing keeps the profile organised and allows each component to remain clearly distinguishable. Chocolate provides depth, red fruit introduces vibrancy, and molasses leaves a dark, persistent sweetness.

Flavor Profile

• Main notes: chocolate, red fruit, and molasses
• Acidity: medium, fruit-driven, and well integrated
• Body: medium, creamy, and silky
• Aftertaste: long, sweet, and lightly chocolatey
• Overall profile: clean, consistent, balanced, and pleasantly deep

The cup opens with soft chocolate and cocoa. Ripe red fruit follows, adding freshness and contrast. Molasses reinforces the sweetness and creates an enveloping sensation that becomes more noticeable as the coffee cools.

Origin and Processing

This coffee grows at Finca San José del Lago in Atitlán, Guatemala, and is produced by Eduardo Cabrera. The farm extends from areas close to the lake into the surrounding mountains, between 1,565 and 2,100 m.a.s.l.

Volcanic soil, cool nights, and the influence of Lake Atitlán support gradual cherry maturation. These conditions encourage good sugar concentration and a balanced cup profile.

Marcellesa was developed to combine resistance to coffee leaf rust with improved cup quality. Its genetics bring together characteristics associated with Sarchimor and genetic material from traditional Ethiopian coffees, producing resilient plants capable of delivering sweetness, clarity, and elegance.

This lot was planted and processed as a pure Marcellesa selection, without being mixed with other varieties. This separation allows its individual character to be appreciated more precisely.

During the washed process, the fruit and mucilage are removed before drying. The result is a clean and defined cup in which chocolate, red fruit, and molasses remain clearly structured and balanced.

Why You’ll Love It

• Variety with a distinctive identity: agricultural resilience and good sensory quality
• Sweet and deep profile: chocolate and molasses form the foundation
• Well-integrated fruit: red fruit brings vibrancy without dominating
• Pleasant texture: creamy, silky, and consistent body

Ideal for

• V60: highlights the red fruit and clarity
• Origami: produces a sweet, aromatic, and clearly defined cup
• AeroPress: enhances creamy texture, chocolate, and molasses
• Espresso: for a balanced, sweet cup with good body
• Milk espresso: chocolate and molasses integrate well with milk
• Moka pot: ideal for an intense, rounded, and chocolate-forward brew

Technical Details

• Origin: Guatemala
• Region: Atitlán
• Farm: Finca San José del Lago
• Producer: Eduardo Cabrera
• Species: Arabica
• Variety: Marcellesa
• Processing: Washed
• Altitude: 1,565–2,100 m.a.s.l.
• SCA score: 86.5
• Tasting notes: chocolate, red fruit, and molasses
• Texture: creamy and silky
• Profile: clean, sweet, consistent, and balanced

Summary

A clean and balanced Guatemalan Marcellesa with chocolate, red fruit, molasses, and a creamy, silky texture. Its combination of sweetness, clarity, and structure makes it highly versatile for filter brewing, espresso, and milk-based drinks.