Royal Spices began as a specialist in high‑altitude Arabica coffees from Atitlán, Huehuetenango, Acatenango, and Santa Rosa, building a reputation for elegant cups and meticulous export preparation. As relationships with growers deepened, one question kept returning from roasters and importers: could Royal Spices also provide a reliable stream of fine Robusta for blends and ready‑to‑drink products?
The answer emerged in the western department of San Marcos, a region better known for its volcanoes and border trade than for coffee headlines. There, at lower altitudes with warmer, more humid conditions, small and medium‑sized producers had been cultivating Robusta quietly for years. Their coffees rarely appeared under their own name, disappearing into anonymous bulk lots. Royal Spices saw an opportunity.
The company began visiting communities across San Marcos, walking the farms, cupping samples, and mapping out the micro‑zones where Robusta thrived. The goal was not just volume, but consistent, export‑grade Robusta that could stand alongside the company’s Arabica portfolio. Training followed: harvest‑time support to pick only ripe cherries, guidance on controlled fermentation, cleaner drying patios, and better storage to preserve flavor and reduce defects.
Within a few harvests, the results were visible. Moisture levels stabilized, screen size and density improved, and the cup profile shifted from harsh and smoky to clean, full‑bodied, and chocolate‑forward—exactly what many European and Asian buyers were seeking for their espresso blends and instant coffee lines. What had once been a fragmented local crop turned into additional containers of Robusta that Royal Spices could confidently place on the international market.
Today, alongside around 36 FCL containers of Arabica from Guatemala’s classic highland regions, Royal Spices moves a growing number of Robusta containers from San Marcos. These coffees flow into:
European roasters looking to add crema, body, and price stability to their blends.
Japanese and Asian partners needing reliable Robusta for canned coffee and RTD beverages.
Large‑scale buyers who value having Arabica and Robusta from a single, traceable Guatemalan source.
For San Marcos producers, this shift means more than new paperwork and export codes. It means access to stable contracts, better farm‑gate prices tied to quality, and the pride of seeing their coffee recognized by name instead of disappearing into generic lots. For Royal Spices, it completes the story: from a boutique origin exporter to a comprehensive Guatemalan coffee supplier, able to design bespoke blends that combine high‑grown Arabica elegance with the strength and structure of carefully prepared Robusta.
And this is only the beginning. With each harvest, more farmers in San Marcos join the program, more containers are added to the schedule, and Royal Spices continues to prove that Guatemalan coffee—Arabica and Robusta alike—can meet the most demanding standards of the global market.