Rich volcanic soil, low humidity, lots of sun and cool nights characterize the Antigua region. The valley is dominated by the magnificent volcanoes of Agua, Acatenango and Fuego. Every once in a while, Fuego-one of Guatemala's three active volcanoes-adds a fresh dusting of mineral rich ash to Antigua's soil. Volcanic pumice in the soil retains moisture, which helps offset Antigua's low rainfall, the lowest of Guatemala's seven coffee regions. Like all of Guatemala's specialty coffee, Antigua Coffee is cultivated under shade. In Antigua, shade is especially dense to protect the coffee trees from the region's occasional frost during the chilly nights from December to February. The dense shade combined with the region's shallow water table produces a distinct microclimate within the coffee fields.