Guatemala Tikal Returns
GUATEMALA TIKAL: AUTUMN SPARK OF ETERNAL SPRING
We have a new coffee: the Guatemala Tikal, a profoundly delicious coffee that is also a testament to the rich coffee culture of Guatemala.
Replacing the Guatemala Monja Blanca, Tikal offers a unique taste profile that has captivated our senses–it brings a new dimension with its lively crisp brightness and medium acidity — reminiscent of biting into a fresh and juicy red plum. Beneath that, you’ll find grounding chewy body layers of dark chocolate, finishing with sweet almond brûlée that lingers and invites another sip.
It’s a cup that feels both cozy and radiant - autumn comfort wrapped in spring light. Squisito!
A Coffee Rooted in History
Guatemala is often called the Land of Eternal Spring, a name that reflects both its lush landscapes and its remarkable suitability for coffee cultivation. Coffee first arrived in the 18th century, introduced by European missionaries. By the mid-19th century, it had grown into a cornerstone of the national economy.
Even today, Guatemala may only rank tenth in global coffee production, but its reputation far outweighs its size. The country has earned a place of honor in specialty coffee not through sheer volume, but through the unmistakable quality and complexity of its beans—and the living story of land, people, and tradition behind them.
Nowhere is this more vivid than in Antigua, the oldest and most historic growing region in Guatemala. Tucked between three volcanoes—Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango—its fertile volcanic soils and cool, high-altitude climate create coffees of remarkable clarity, sweetness, and depth. For centuries, Antigua has been the benchmark of Guatemalan coffee: the standard against which every other cup is measured. It’s the flavor that lingers in memory, the balance and elegance that coffee drinkers across the world have come to expect whenever they think of Guatemala.
A Landscape Built for Flavor
From its fertile volcanic soils to its dramatic mountain ranges, Guatemala is a natural wonderland for coffee. The geography creates a mosaic of microclimates — distinct combinations of altitude, rainfall, and soil that give each growing region its own signature taste.
Regions like Antigua and Atitlán have become world-famous for coffees that are simultaneously rich, sweet, and layered with fruit and spice. To help preserve and celebrate these differences, the national coffee association, Anacafé, began defining regional flavor profiles in the early 1990s — a pioneering move that underscored the sophistication of Guatemala’s coffee culture.
Tikal: A New Chapter in a Timeless Story
At Spella, we have long celebrated Guatemalan coffees. With Tikal, we sought to distill the essence of this country’s coffee heritage into a profile that feels both timeless and teeming with life.
Named for the ancient Mayan city hidden in the rainforest, Tikal is a nod to Guatemala’s deep history and resilience. Like its namesake, this coffee connects past and present: honoring the roots of Guatemalan tradition while offering something fresh and sparkling for today’s coffee drinker.
Through close collaboration with our exporters, Tikal draws on multiple regions, allowing flexibility from harvest to harvest while maintaining exceptional consistency year after year. It’s this approach that ensures every bag of Tikal captures the classic Guatemalan cup.
Flavor Notes: Cozy and Radiant
What you’ll taste in Tikal:
Rich Dark Chocolate
Red Plum
Almond Brûlée
Brewing the Spark
One of Tikal’s defining strengths is its versatility. However you brew it, the balance of sweetness and brightness shines.
As a single origin, Tikal stands tall with elegance and depth. It is pleasantly very chewy and absolutely sparkling fruit and vibrancy that brighten not only the cup but the spirit.
Beyond the Cup: People & Place
Every sip of Tikal connects you with more than flavor — it connects you with the people and places behind the bean. For countless farming families across Guatemala, coffee is both livelihood and heritage. Generations have tended these plants, navigating shifting climates, global markets, and the challenges of agriculture and production in a time of tariffs.
By taking time to savor coffees like Tikal, we honor not just the cup before us, but the hands, hearts, and traditions that shaped it.
Where to Find Tikal
Our Guatemala Tikal is available now in our online shop for delivery or our free pick up option, and will soon be featured at our Alder Street caffè.
Come taste a coffee that feels both timeless and alive — a spark from the Land of Eternal Spring.
