Building long-term partnerships with coffee producers in Honduras is the backbone of our sourcing practices and company values. These collaborations are integral to the quality and sustainability of our coffee and the overall well-being of local Honduran communities.
Working closely with producers allows us to create a transparent and traceable path for their coffees and allows us to contribute to a more sustainable future for all stakeholders. Our interpretation of "sustainability" extends beyond its literal definition; it involves empowering our producers, showcasing their work, and investing in the welfare of their communities and environment as part of our daily work.
This core ethos has enabled us to maintain high standards, not only for coffee quality but also for the overall quality of life in the communities that produce it. Through these partnerships, we can closely collaborate with producers to ensure our alignment on values for a better world across our communities and address their individual challenges arising from cultural, climatic, and regional factors.
While each region has unique challenges for coffee producers, their diversity is highlighted through a wide array of flavor profiles and coffee qualities that are a unique example of who they are.
With every visit to Honduras, we try to explore every corner within its coffee regions, which has allowed us to partner with producers from around the country. Our travels and adventures in each of these regions add to the historical, social, and environmental context for each of our coffees; making each coffee a truly one-of-a-kind offering.
Read on to learn more about the regions where our coffees come from!
The Coffee Landscape in Honduras
The coffee-producing regions in Honduras are undoubtedly among the most breathtaking landscapes in the country, featuring terroirs perfectly suited for coffee production. Each region boasts unique characteristics, landmarks, and geographical wonders that make them renowned worldwide for their natural beauty and coffee quality and we take pride in sourcing coffee from five of the most prominent regions across the country.
Ocotepeque
Ocotepeque, a major coffee-producing region, is also celebrated globally for its natural beauty, nestled amidst the region's mountains, including Celaque National Park and Reserva Biológica El Güisayote, one of Honduras' largest and most important protected areas.
Copán
Located in western Honduras, bordering Guatemala, Copán sits at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 meters above sea level. Coffees from Copán are cherished for their sweet aroma and prominent notes of chocolate, caramel, and citrus.
Marcala
Situated in the southwest region along the Salvadoran border, Marcala is the first region in Honduras to have a denomination of origin. Renowned for its unique climate and high-altitude coffee production, the region's elevation and cooler night temperatures result in a slower cherry ripening process, producing a sweeter and more nuanced flavor profile.
Comayagua
Photo courtesy of Visit Centro America
Located at the heart of Honduras, Comayagua boasts elevations ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 meters above sea level. This is an up-and-coming coffee-producing region thanks to innovative and quality-driven producers like Yovani Sosa, one of our more recent producing partners. We’re excited to continue exploring Comayagua’s amazing coffees in the years to come.
Santa Barbara
Known for its exceptional coffee, Santa Barbara is situated within dense forests and experiences heavy rainfall year-round. While coffee processing presents challenges for local producers, the regional microclimate enhances the development of rich, sweet coffee, cherished by roasters and consumers worldwide.
The Benefits of Building Relationships with Coffee Producers
Stepping beyond the beauty and uniqueness of Honduras’ coffee landscape we get to enjoy during our sourcing practices is the profound impact that forging close-knit relationships with coffee producers can have on the coffee industry.
Everything we do revolves around the genuine impact that close relationships can have on all industry stakeholders. Over the years, we have witnessed firsthand the improvements in the quality of life and quality of their coffees, which benefits roasters seeking exceptional coffee experiences for their customers.
Maintaining close relationships with producers also enables us to source precisely the types of coffees we need and ensure a consistent supply for our clients year after year. While having direct access to experimental and innovative lots is exciting, working directly with producers also allows us to address individual issues collaboratively and work toward a more sustainable future.
The Impact on Coffee Producers
A more sustainable future is intricately linked to farmgate economics. We have observed how our partner's coffee quality has consistently improved. However, our efforts extend beyond quality improvement. Increased quality places a greater emphasis on production practices, innovative processing methods, and reinvestment in farms and communities. This, in turn, enables producers to command better prices in an ever-changing, competitive market.
With this in mind, our mission is to advocate for all our Honduran stakeholders and ensure their ability to invest in the long-term sustainability of their future. Building relationships with producers is a key part of our work, and in reality, our Honduran stakeholders have become our business partners.
In recent years, we have acquired a piece of land in Copán alongside our local partners, and a piece of the land has become the grounds for our reforestation pilot project.
We’re proud to be able to invest in these long-term projects with our partners. Working in unison for the common goal of building an impact-driven industry that prioritizes social and environmental sustainability, quality, and inclusivity.
Reforestation Site
Our reforestation initiative is a collective effort involving coffee producers, roasters, and importers to preserve local biodiversity and forested areas. To date, we have planted over 6,000 endemic trees. Additionally, we aim to create an additional source of revenue to support our sustainability efforts in Honduras. To achieve this, we have partnered with Tiny Footprint Coffee to establish a new company, Tiny Carbon, focused on producing long-term, high-quality, and fully traceable carbon credits.
We will provide a more detailed update on Tiny Carbon soon. In the meantime, please feel free to check out our selection of coffees for this harvest season and reach out to us to learn more about our project or how to get involved!
See you next time!