Honduras

Nelson Ramirez

This coffee comes from Honduras, where we have previously bought a few lots through our close partners at Collaborative Coffee Source. Their work in the Santa Barbara region has led to some outstanding lots, including this washed Red Catuai from Nelson Ramirez. The Santa Barbara Region provides some challenges to those hoping to grow high quality coffee. The location, close to a large area of jungle, and at high altitude, means a great deal of rainfall, especially during harvest season, leading to great difficulty in consistently drying coffees. The low night temperatures here, along with the wet climate, can also lead to ‘freezing’ of the coffee plant, where cherries cease to mature on the tree, leading to crop loss. However, all of these challenges only serve to strengthen the resolve of the farmers here, and the vast majority of Honduran Cup of Excellence winners have come from Santa Barbara, since the inception of the competition here in 2005. Nelson’s lot of Catuai has incredibly clean and fresh notes of raspberry and pomegranate, alongside a soft cocoa bitterness in the finish. A testament to his hard work against the odds in this challenging region.