The biggest bean we've ever roasted — and one of the rarest.
Maracaturra is a cross of Maragogype, the legendary "Elephant Bean," and Caturra. Pour a handful into your palm and the size is almost comic: nearly double the bean you're used to. That size is a gift and a headache — big beans roast unevenly and scorch if you rush them — which is exactly why so few roasters bother. We thought this one was worth the trouble.
It comes from Mario Alarcón's Monte de Oro farm — the "Mountain of Gold" — high in Guatemala's Acatenango region, where volcanic soil and a cool microclimate slow everything down. Mario processed this lot naturally, drying the cherries whole to build sweetness and body, and we roasted it light to keep every note intact.
In the cup, it opens on blood orange — juicy and bright, with the faint bitter edge that sets it apart from lemon or grapefruit. Underneath sits fresh cacao nib, then milk chocolate rounding it out, with a clean finish closer to sugarcane than caramel. Give it time to cool and it unfolds: several registers of citrus and chocolate, and a soft floral lift at the very end.
Its sister lot: our Gesha Monte de Oro — same farm, same producer, same $32, a completely different cup. New to the Elephant Bean? Read the full story on maragogype coffee.
At a glance
Origin: Monte de Oro farm, Acatenango, Guatemala
Producer: Mario Alarcón
Variety: Maracaturra (Maragogype × Caturra)
Process: Natural
Roast: Light
Notes: Blood orange, milk chocolate, floral finish
Size: 12 oz whole bean · $32