Coffee FAQ

Single origin coffee comes from one defined place - a country, region, farm, or cooperative - rather than a blend of many origins mixed for consistency. That focus lets you taste terroir: soil, altitude, climate, variety, and processing. At Single Origin Microlot (SOML), we specialize in Guatemala single origins so cafes, restaurants, and roasters can put a clear origin story on the menu instead of a generic house blend.

A microlot is a small, intentionally separated lot - often a specific plot, process, or harvest window - handled apart from commodity bulk so its distinctive cup quality is preserved. Extra selective picking, separate processing, cupping, and documentation raise cost, and limited volume creates scarcity. Buyers pay more for traceability, uniqueness, and higher cup quality. SOML's Guatemala collection is built around that microlot mindset: distinctive lots you can explain to guests, not anonymous filler beans.

Guatemala's volcanic soils, high elevations (often 1,200-2,000m), and diverse microclimates produce coffees with structure, sweetness, and clarity. Regions like Lake Atitlan, Huehuetenango, and Antigua each express different profiles - from bright citrus-chocolate washed cups to fruit-forward naturals. SOML focuses on Guatemala so DFW operators get a coherent origin program instead of a random rotating map of the world.

Lake Atitlan coffees often show clean washed-process clarity with bright acidity, dark chocolate, and caramel sweetness, shaped by volcanic lake microclimates. Exact notes vary by lot and process. Taste our Lake Atitlan Estate offering in the shop, or request a wholesale sample set if you are building a cafe or restaurant program.

Washed (wet) processing removes fruit before drying and usually yields cleaner, brighter cups. Natural (dry) keeps the cherry on during drying and tends toward fruit-forward sweetness and heavier body. Honey leaves some mucilage on the bean, landing between washed and natural. SOML's Guatemala lineup includes washed, natural, and honey expressions so you can match process to drip lines, espresso, or guest preferences.

Specialty coffee is evaluated with standardized cupping protocols from organizations like the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) and Coffee Quality Institute (CQI). Scores on a 100-point scale generally treat 80+ as specialty grade; higher scores reflect exceptional aroma, flavor, acidity, body, and balance. Lot scores change every harvest. At Single Origin Microlot, coffees are selected for specialty quality - consistently in the ~85+ range on the SCA scale. When a specific lot score is available through our roasting partnership, we share it with buyers.

Neither is universally "better." Colombia often delivers familiar chocolate-caramel balance at accessible volumes. Guatemala frequently offers brighter structure and distinctive regional character that helps a cafe or restaurant stand out. If differentiation and origin storytelling matter on your menu, Guatemala is a strong strategic choice - which is why SOML specializes there for wholesale and green buyers.

Restaurants do well with a consistent, guest-friendly drip coffee that still tastes intentional - often a washed Guatemala with chocolate/caramel sweetness and clean finish - plus an optional specialty espresso or pour-over for guests who want more. SOML works with multi-location dining groups on house drip programs and specialty pours; request wholesale samples to cup options against your dessert and service style.

Look for roast freshness you can plan around, honest origin stories, samples before any contract, and a partner who understands cafe and restaurant volume rather than one-bag online orders. Ask about roast cadence, packaging built for service, private-label options, and who actually roasts the coffee. Single Origin Microlot is Dallas-based, Guatemala-focused, and built for buyers who order by the case: cafes, restaurants, and roasters. Start with a wholesale inquiry.

Private label means roasted coffee packed and branded for your business. You define roast profile and brand presentation; we handle sourcing and roasting through our Dallas partnership so your guests see your name on the bag. It is ideal for multi-location groups and cafes that want ownership of the brand experience. Twinkie's-style programs are exactly this lane - ask us about private label on the wholesale form.

Most restaurants and cafes should buy roasted coffee unless they operate a roastery. Green coffee requires roasting equipment, skill, and QC. Roasted wholesale keeps quality consistent and labor lower. Green is for professional roasters building their own profiles. SOML offers both: roasted wholesale / private label and green coffee for roasters.

For specialty programs, coffee should arrive with a clear roast date and within a window that matches your brew methods - typically best within a few weeks of roast when stored properly. SOML guarantees coffee roasted within 7 days of shipping. Small-batch Dallas roasting usually runs Monday-Wednesday with Thursday-Friday shipping for weekend orders, so your bar can stay on "this week's roast."

Volume depends on seats, hours, and brew methods. A small cafe might use tens of pounds weekly; busy multi-location restaurants can need hundreds. Estimate cups per day x grams per drink, then add a buffer for waste and growth. Share your monthly estimate on our wholesale form - we size sample sets and ordering cadence to real service volume, not guesswork.

Atitlan often reads bright and clean (great for filter clarity). Huehuetenango high-grown lots can show denser sweetness and fruit complexity (strong for standout single origins). Antigua tends toward classic balanced Guatemala character (guest-friendly house coffee). Many operators menu one approachable house lot and one rotating "feature" lot. SOML can recommend a drip + specialty pairing for your concept.

Fair trade is a third-party certification with minimum prices and audits. Direct trade usually means a roaster buys through closer producer relationships without that specific certificate - quality and impact vary by company. SOML uses honest partnership language: we source Guatemala coffee through trusted sustainable sourcing partnerships today, roast in Dallas, and are building toward direct green import. We do not overclaim "our farms" or blanket direct-trade marketing. Details are on Our Story.

We are a Dallas company, so Dallas - Fort Worth and Austin are where we can show up in person, drop off samples, and dial in a program alongside your team. We ship retail bags nationwide, and we take wholesale and green inquiries from anywhere the fit makes sense. Wherever you are, the roast-within-7-days promise is the same.

It means roast decisions protect origin character instead of forcing every coffee into a generic light or dark stereotype. For espresso, that can mean balancing sweetness and solubility without erasing Guatemala's structure. Through our Dallas roasting partnership, profiles are developed lot-by-lot - useful when you want a Guatemala espresso that tastes like Guatemala, not like a commodity dark roast.

Use the wholesale page form or contact form. Include locations, monthly volume, and brew methods (drip, espresso, both). We follow up with a recommended sample set and next steps. DFW and Austin inquiries get first attention.

Minimums depend on whether you need retail bags, bulk roasted, or private label. Share your volume on the wholesale inquiry - we would rather right-size the first order than force a one-size minimum that wastes coffee. Quantity deals (not single-bag retail) are our focus.

Tell us your brand needs, target roast style, bag size, and location count via the wholesale form. We confirm profiles, labeling, and fulfillment cadence through our Dallas roasting partnership. Multi-location groups (house drip in some venues, specialty in others) are a common fit.

Visit Green Coffee and submit an inquiry with monthly green volume and preferred regions/processes. We share current availability through our sourcing partnerships and sampling path. We are actively working toward direct import while keeping supply reliable today.

Coffee is typically roasted Monday-Wednesday and ships Thursday-Friday for orders received over the weekend (and on a similar weekly rhythm for mid-week orders). We guarantee roast dates within 7 days of shipping so freshness is operational, not marketing copy.

Yes. If roasted coffee does not meet expectations, contact us within 30 days of delivery for a replacement or refund per our Refund Policy. Wholesale custom/private-label runs may have different terms agreed in writing before production.

After roast/ship day, continental U.S. delivery is typically 3-5 business days via standard carriers; expedited options may be available. See Shipping Policy for details. Free-shipping thresholds for DTC, when offered, are shown at checkout.

Single Origin Microlot is a brand of Ceiba Collective LLC, based in the Dallas area. We partner for Guatemala sourcing and small-batch Dallas roasting, focus on wholesale/private label and green, and keep DTC bags available for tasting and exposure. Read more on Our Story or start a conversation.

Retail bags are available in the shop. If you buy for a cafe, restaurant, or roastery, skip one-off bags and go straight to wholesale or green coffee - that is where SOML is built to help.