20,000 Roasts That Changed a Village in Guatemala, Shangri-La / Aljana
When Tim Reher first arrived in San Marcos La Laguna in 2010, he could not have imagined that a small piece of land overlooking Lake Atitlán would eventually become the heart of a thriving artisanal coffee movement. What began as a personal journey—one shaped by years of traveling, living, and working across the world—slowly grew into something far greater: a community-driven coffee project that reshaped the cultural and economic landscape of an entire village.
A Beginning Rooted in Curiosity and Craft
Originally from Germany, Tim settled in San Marcos La Laguna and purchased a property planted with coffee and jocote trees. While building his home and gardens, he began experimenting with the coffee harvested from his land.
The early days were simple: processing everything by hand, roasting in a frying pan, and treating coffee as an art form rather than a business.
Yet the more Tim learned, the more he realized a deep imbalance in the local coffee ecosystem. Although the mountains surrounding the village were filled with family-owned micro lots of high-quality arabica, the community never tasted the coffee they grew. Fresh cherries were shipped directly to large processing plants, and most restaurants served instant or low-quality supermarket blends.
This insight became the seed of a vision.
Creating Local Value Where None Existed
In 2013, Tim purchased his first roasting and processing equipment. With the washed coffee method in place, he began offering processing services and selling freshly roasted coffee to local restaurants.
The response was immediate.
Tourism around Lake Atitlán was accelerating, and demand for locally produced specialty coffee grew rapidly. Tim and his team began buying cherries from neighbors—paying at least 30% higher prices than commercial buyers—ensuring that farmers experienced real economic benefit from their harvests.
What had started as a hobby quickly became a full-time business with growing responsibility.
But one major problem remained: the equipment.
Their first roaster, nicknamed “the Beast,” was a makeshift, unreliable machine that limited quality and consistency. To build a real roastery, Tim needed a real tool.
A Turning Point: Choosing GARANTİ
In 2016, the decision was made:
Shangri-La Atitlan would become a professional-grade roastery.
Tim purchased a GARANTİ 5KG drum roaster (GKPX5 / Pacifica 5) directly from the factory in İzmir, Türkiye, and shipped it to Guatemala. Alongside this major investment, the team renovated their shop, created office space, registered with the Ministry of Health for national distribution, upgraded all processing equipment, and launched their official brand: ALJANA (www.shangrilaatitlan.com).
From there, everything changed.
20,000 Roasts Later: A Machine That Became Part of the Community
Today, Shangri-La / Aljana roasts approximately 1 ton of coffee per month.
Their GARANTİ GKPX5 has completed more than 20,000 roasting cycles, producing over 70 tons of coffee with consistent performance.
But the impact goes far beyond production numbers.
“That little roaster changed our lives and the life of a whole village.”
— Tim Reher
The roastery created local employment.
It empowered farmers to value the coffee they grow.
It allowed the community of San Marcos La Laguna to finally taste the fruit of their own land.
And it set a foundation for new opportunities—artisanal food products, expanded processing capacity, and a thriving local brand.At the center of it all stands a small but reliable 5KG machine from Turkey.
Philosophy: Coffee as Culture, Craft and Responsibility
Tim’s approach to coffee is rooted in respect—for the crop, the people, and the land itself.
Their work with local growers, including indigenous communities around Lake Atitlán, reflects a commitment to:
- Craftsmanship over mass production
- Fair pricing and economic empowerment
- Artisanal methods that preserve quality
- Honoring cultural heritage through careful roasting
This philosophy is woven deeply into every batch they roast.
Looking Forward
The success of Aljana inspired new ventures: expanding into artisanal Guatemalan food products and building a small but vibrant production company powered by local hands.
As the brand grows, the mission remains unchanged:
to elevate local agriculture, create meaningful employment, and share the true flavor of Atitlán with the world.
And through it all, the GARANTİ GKPX5 continues to work—batch after batch, year after year—quietly shaping a story of craftsmanship, community, and transformation.
About Shangri-La Atitlan / Aljana
Location: Barrio 2, San Marcos La Laguna, Sololá, Guatemala
Website: www.shangrilaatitlan.com / www.aljanaguatemala.com
Founder: Tim Reher
Roaster: GARANTİ GKPX5 (Pacifica 5) – 20,000+ batches roasted
Production: ~1 ton per month
With Gratitude
This story would not exist without the vision, persistence, and generosity of Tim Reher.
We thank Tim and the Shangri-La Atitlan / Aljana team for trusting us with their story, their work, and the images that bring this journey to life.
It is a privilege to witness how dedication, craftsmanship, and the right tools can shape not only a business, but an entire community.
