Our coffees and teas are only as great as the ingredients we use, which is why we’re always traveling around the world to source the best quality products we can find! Praveena Sundarraj, Coffee Category Manager here at Royal Cup, visited Guatemala recently to meet with coffee producers and learn more about the beans behind our brands.
Here’s what she had to say about her experience:
What is your role at Royal Cup and how long have you been a member of the team?
I’ve been a Coffee Category Manager at Royal Cup for 2.5 years, working to ensure we manufacture the absolute best coffees and develop innovative strategies to further solidify our position in the coffee industry. I also serve as one of the 3 Q grader at Royal Cup, meaning I am part of the team that test and maintain the quality of our beans to make sure each of our coffees are graded at a quality level. In order to become a Q grader, I had to pass a three-day examination on 20 different sections of coffee-related subjects such as coffee cupping, sensory skills and green grading. You could say I have a degree in everything coffee!
Where in Guatemala did you travel to?
I traveled to multiple locations including Antiqua and Atitlan and Acatenango.
How long was your trip?
Unfortunately, my trip was only three days. However, I made sure to take advantage of every second I was there.
Which Royal Cup products are made from the ingredients sourced from Guatemala?
We have a single farm coffee in the ROAR brand, Guatemala Estate is grown right next to the Agua and Fuego volcanoes, one of the world’s most fertile regions for coffee. The unique microclimates provide the beans with a deep complexity and create highly unique flavors that can’t be replicated anywhere else in the world.
How was your experience visiting the local farms?
The only way to truly understand the passion these farmers have for coffee is to witness it firsthand. It was an amazing opportunity to see the elaborate processes they use to grow and process the beans that go on to supply Royal Cup’s high quality specifications. I look forward to visiting again and having the chance to experience more of the wonderful culture in Guatemala!
Where would you like to travel to in the future?
I have always wanted to travel to Brazil which is the largest coffee growing region in the world with multiple grades of coffees.
