Chui Juyub, meaning “above the mountain” in K’iche’, represents a community of 25 Mayan K’iche’ women coffee producers from Palestina, a village located in the mountains above San Juan La Laguna on Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. For generations, these women have cultivated coffee on small family plots, carrying forward deep agricultural knowledge and tradition.

Chui Juyub Coffee is both a cooperative and a speciality coffee shop located in Panajachel. Chui Juyub was designed to create a direct connection between the producers and the people who enjoy their coffee. Through this model, we aim to ensure that more of the value of coffee remains within the community where it is grown.

Our coffee reflects both quality and diversity. It has received a score of 86 points on the Specialty Coffee Association scale, placing it firmly within specialty grade coffee. Across the land, we grow 13 different coffee varieties, including well-known and high-quality varietals. We also use a range of processing methods, including washed, natural, and anaerobic fermentations, allowing us to explore different flavor profiles and continually improve quality.

The cooperative focuses on strengthening coffee production through training in cultivation, harvesting, and processing, while also expanding access to markets and resources. By working collectively, the women are able to improve quality, increase income, and build long-term economic opportunities for their families.

Our coffee shops serve as a platform to share this work. Every product we offer is intentionally sourced to support the cooperative and local entrepreneurs. In addition to serving high-quality coffee, we highlight Guatemalan gastronomy and create space for cultural exchange through workshops, events, and community collaboration.

At Chui Juyub, our goal is simple: to build a model where coffee creates opportunity, connection, and sustainable growth for the community above the mountain.