Guatemalan Coffees are 98% shade grown, counting more than thirty-eight million shade and coffee trees. The resulting coffee forest extends approximately 270,000 hectares and makes up 6.4 percent of the national forest cover.

But, why is shade so important for us? Standing on one of Guatemala’s coffee-covered hillsides, it is not difficult to understand its importance. At these higher elevations the sun’s rays radiate peak levels of intense ultraviolet light; tropical downpours soak the earth in a matter of minutes; driving winds, and occasional frost, envelop mountains. Faced with these elements, coffee trees need protection.