This year, Evans Brothers owner Randy Evans and honorary brother Daniel Gunter had the opportunity to travel to Guatemala and experience the 2026 CODECH coffee competition firsthand. This competion is put on my Atlas Coffee Importers, and we were honored for the invitation.
CODECH is a cooperative in Huehuetenango that brings together coffee producers from across the region, and each year they hold an internal competition where Producers submit their best coffees for evaluation. The competition gives farmers an opportunity to showcase their work, receive recognition, and earn premium prices for exceptional coffees. For Randy and Daniel, being there in person offered a unique look at the care, skill, and pride that goes into producing some of Guatemala’s best coffees.
The judging process is rigorous, with coffees evaluated over multiple days by experienced coffee professionals. Sample roasts are cupped side by side, allowing judges to assess qualities like aroma, acidity, sweetness, balance, body, and overall complexity. Andrés Recinos Pérez’s coffee stood out, receiving the highest score overall and ultimately taking the top spot.
This winning lot is a washed coffee grown at 1,800 meters in Huehuetenango, with tasting notes of graham cracker, raspberry, honeysuckle, pink lemonade, juicy red apple, and so many expressive flavors. (Let us know what you taste!) With a coffee this expressive, we chose a lighter roast profile to bring out the bright fruit, floral character, and lively acidity that made Andrés’ lot stand out during the competition. A lighter approach also allows more of the coffee’s origin and variety to come through, giving you a better sense of what made this particular lot so special.
We’re especially excited to share Andrés’ coffee because its story goes far beyond what’s in the cup. We got to witness the competition, meet the people behind the coffees, and see firsthand the work that goes into producing them. The coffee went on to become a finalist in the 2026 Global Coffee Awards, making this limited release an especially meaningful one for our team. Once this small lot is gone, we won’t have more until the next harvest.
Pictured above is Randy, Daniel, and Producer Andrés Recinos Pérez.