Guatemala Maria Mendoza
We’re thrilled to announce a new and truly special addition to our lineup: a washed-process blend of Bourbon and Caturra varietals produced by Maria Mendoza, a member of the ADAT community within the CODECH cooperative in Guatemala. This coffee, grown at an impressive 1,868 meters above sea level, dazzles with tasting notes of fruit cocktail, delicate florals, and cane sugar. It’s a sweet and layered cup that highlights the incredible skill and dedication behind its creation.
Pictured here is the collection and storage facility for coffee belonging to ADAT once it has gone through wet milling and drying.
Back in March, OZO had the incredible opportunity to travel to Guatemala to participate as a judge in the annual internal CODECH competition. This event spans three days, with six judges spending half the day cupping and scoring coffees and the other half doing farm tours, mill visits, or other educational adventures. As with any origin travel, the days are long, exhausting, and incredibly rewarding.
A table of samples being prepared and cupped at the CODECH lab.
This year’s competition featured some exceptional coffees, but one stood out above the rest: the winning lot from producer Maria Mendoza. This was her first year entering the competition, and she took 1st place with a coffee that scored 87.58—a full 0.71 points higher than the 2nd place entry. This achievement earned her a 50-cent per pound premium. The notes of pear, raspberry, cane sugar, strawberry, and apple muffin truly set this coffee apart.
After the judging, the group headed to the annual ADAT community event. It was an unforgettable experience: a chance for the community to come together, share food and drinks, dance, and celebrate the top competition winners. The cuppers stood on stage with a marimba band playing as the winners were announced, with Maria Mendoza’s name being celebrated by the community. While Maria wasn’t in attendance, the entire group honored her and the other ADAT top 10 winners, of which there were 5 total!
ADAT community event where music played, people danced, and awards were given to competition winners!
The quality of Maria’s coffee spoke for itself, and all the cuppers agreed it deserved to be shared with coffee lovers far and wide. The 10-bag winning lot was divided between the judges, giving OZO customers an opportunity to taste this gem. With only 2 bags of green available (equally around 250 pounds of roasted coffee), this offering will not be around for long—be sure to grab a bag while you can and celebrate this extraordinary producer’s journey.
Maria Mendoza standing with her coffee plants.
We are honored to bring this coffee to you, not just because of its incredible flavor but also because of the story behind it. Maria’s dedication and success inspire us, and we hope this coffee inspires you. Congratulations again to Maria Mendoza and thank you for letting us share this moment with you!