Ayarza, Santa Rosa, Guatemala

Thanks to Extract Coffee Roasters, our delicious Cast Iron coffee comes from one of the most beautiful places in the world. 

Served in all of our cafés, you can try Extract Coffee Roasters' darkest roast espresso that packs a punch of bold sweet flavours. But what is the story behind your cup?

The origins of Cast Iron

This single-origin coffee comes from Ayarza, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. The drastic landscape has a story of its own, with the lake being formed by two massive volcanoes that collapsed and formed a large crater - creating the Laguna de Ayarza and Laguna Azul. 

At the heart of Ayarza's coffee production is the central cherry processing mill that works with several smallholder farmers. By paying a premium for their coffee cherries - small, round fruits that grow on coffee plants and contain the seeds for coffee beans - the mill ensures high-quality beans while supporting the livelihoods of local farmers. 

Among these local producers is Franciso Nájera, who has been working in coffee production for over 15 years and has navigated challenges like the constant threat of coffee diseases while continuing to excel in his business. 

The washed process

The cherries that create Cast Iron coffee are processed here using the washed method, a technique prized for its ability to produce clean, consistent flavours. After the ripe red cherries are picked and sorted (either by hand or by density in flotation tanks), they go through a meticulous process: 

1. Pulping: The skins are removed to reveal the beans. 
2. Washing: They sticky mucilage from around the beans is washed away using water.
3. Drying: The beans are left to dry, then shipped to roasters. 

This water-intensive process results in a coffee that is uniform in quality and flavour, meaning you can get a delicious, speciality coffee every single morning.  

Why choose Cast Iron coffee? 

When choosing to drink Cast Iron coffee on campus, you're not only supporting dedicated farmers and businesses who take quality coffee seriously, but also coffee roasters who ensure fair wages for farmers and put sustainability first, all while delivering a speciality product. 

This is why it is so important to think about the work and care that goes into your food and drink behind the scenes. It's more than just coffee. It's a community of people who care about what they're serving.

Crafted using Extract Coffee Roasters' cast iron Probat roasters, this coffee mirrors the equipment it's roasted on: reliable, consistent and bold. So whether you're seeking a strong morning espresso or a velvety oat latte, Cast Iron is the perfect choice.

Find out more about our house espresso, Cast Iron here and take another sustainable step by taking part in our Ground to Ground Coffee scheme where you can take a bag of our used coffee grounds from our cafés and turn them into something great - all for free!

Contact: 

Follow us @ualcatering for more updates.