Our Story
Direct From The Source
We work directly with the farmers who grow our coffee — visiting their farms, building real relationships, and bringing you specialty-grade coffee from Guatemala's finest estates.
Meet the Founder
How It Started
Glen Ellyn Coffee Co. was founded by Marta Scarleski, a Glen Ellyn resident whose parents are both from Guatemala. She grew up visiting family, getting to know the country, the culture, and the people.
As a lifelong coffee lover, she always appreciated the smooth, elevated coffee produced by Guatemalan beans. When she had the opportunity to visit a coffee farm, she jumped at the chance — and never looked back. From there she built relationships with farmers, and her knowledge and passion grew into Glen Ellyn Coffee Co.
Marta visits Guatemala multiple times a year — visiting farms, building real relationships, and bringing you small batch specialty-grade coffee direct from the source.
Photo: Marta visiting Don Rafa
Our Difference
A Better Way to Get Your Coffee
How We Do It
- ✓ Roasted at origin by certified professionals
- ✓ Cupped by a licensed Q Grader before it leaves the farm
- ✓ Shipped directly from the farm to us — no shipping containers, no warehouses
- ✓ More value goes back to the farmers who grow it
Traditional Supply Chain
- ✕ Coffee ships in containers for weeks at sea
- ✕ Passes through importers, brokers, and distributors
- ✕ Stored in warehouses for months, losing quality
- ✕ Farmers receive a fraction of the retail price
Why It Matters
Strictly Hard Bean. Specialty Grade.
All of our farms grow Strictly Hard Bean (SHB) Arabica coffee — the highest classification for beans grown above 4,500 feet. At these altitudes, cooler temperatures slow maturation by months, producing denser beans with more concentrated sugars, deeper flavor complexity, and a structure that roasts more evenly. Every bean is hand-picked at peak ripeness, tested for zero primary defects, and scored by the Specialty Coffee Association cupping scale by a certified Q Grader. Our coffees consistently score within the specialty coffee range — that's not just specialty, it's exceptional.
Personally Visited
The Farms
We work with a limited number of farms we've personally visited and built relationships with. Every farm uses sustainable practices and is run by families who've been growing coffee for generations.