Located in Central America, Guatemala has spent its history after colonization ebbing and flowing through various different commodity exports. After the 1850s coffee became one of the highest exported goods from Guatemala, which also made it a highly politicized agricultural commodity from here on out. Becoming one of the fiercest regions for quality standards, Guatemala maintains its position in a global market for a premium product. Here is an excerpt from our Direct Trade partners from Two Birds Coffee: “The Two Birds Family has been in the coffee industry for quite a while. It was three generations ago that a woman, the wife of a humble foreman, decided to start a small tailoring business in Guatemala. With her earnings and a sharp mind, she quickly recognized the need for coffee beans- so she bought some, and sold them. Eventually she had saved up enough to buy some land, and on that land she planted coffee. While it has been passed down throughout generations, the love for the land and the commitment to the craft has always remained the same.”