Honduras

Honduras produces more coffee than Guatemala and Costa Rica together, and many people still know it only as an ingredient in blends. That is changing. Since the coffees have been sold with farm names and altitudes, it has become clear what the country can do: sweet, balanced coffees with fruit and cocoa that keep up with the neighbours and cost less.

The regions

Copán in the west on the border with Guatemala is known for chocolatey, round coffees from 1,000 to 1,500 metres. Santa Bárbara is the insider tip: steep plots up to 1,800 metres with a cool climate and coffees full of red fruit and acidity, and the home of the parainema variety. Marcala in La Paz has carried the first protected designation of origin in Central America since 2005, with coffees that taste of caramel and apricot. Then there are Comayagua, Opalaca, Montecillos and Agalta.

The farmers

More than 100,000 families grow coffee in Honduras, most of them on less than two hectares. Many have their own small depulpers and drying yards, but a large share dries on plastic sheeting during the rainy season, which long contributed to a reputation for inconsistent quality. Solar dryers and cooperatives with central drying facilities have changed that in recent years.

Varieties

Lempira and IHCAFE 90 are local, rust resistant selections from the national coffee institute. Parainema is a sarchimor line with a surprisingly fruity profile that has beaten geshas in competitions. Alongside them are catuaí, pacas and old bourbons.

The Cup of Excellence

The Cup of Excellence competition has been held in Honduras since 2004. The winning lots, often from Santa Bárbara, reach auction prices that can carry a smallholder family for years. They have brought the country an attention that finally matches the amount of good coffee it grows.

In the cup

Honduras is the all rounder of Central America: medium acidity, medium body, plenty of sweetness. As a filter it shows apricot and caramel, as espresso it turns to cocoa and vanilla. With milk it works excellently. On price it is usually the best choice in the region.