Story
Emiliana Montoya, a 46-year old grower from Campanario, Honduras, with three kids and two grandchildren, has been cultivating increasingly high quality coffee on her 1-hectare farm for close to 20 years. She herself is a second-generation coffee farmer, inheriting the trade from her parents. According to our import partners, Semilla Coffee, it was once her hope to earn a living growing her own coffee; now her hope is that one day she’ll get to travel the world and meet the people who drink it (like you!).
This import is a true single origin, single farm (Emiliana’s farm is called “Los Alcipreces”) blend of Bourbon and Typica varietals with bright notes of pomelo, green apple, and custard. The 48-hour fermented cherries picked at peak ripeness were solar dried for ~25 days on raised beds.
Emiliana’s parents dedicated over 30 years to coffee farming, one of the most reliable sources of income in this region, but until only recently the price earned per quintal (100 pounds) has been barely enough to survive on, let alone support a family. Semilla’s direct import approach and grower assistance programs in Honduras have helped change just that; introducing international markets to specialty coffee exporters and offering opportunities for sale closer to home in remote areas such as Campanario.
At 1750 MASL, the elevation, climate, and rainforest soil conditions here are all perfect for growing Typica cherries in particular. Even as an Arabica descendent with origins in Ethiopia, having been introduced to neighboring El Salvador at the end of the 18th century, the Typica varietal has adapted tremendously to Central America, where cooler airs quells its susceptibility to leaf rusting. In the Intibucá Department, on Honduras’ mountainous western flank, its capital, La Esperanza (meaning “Hope”) is known for having the coolest microclimate in the country.
When Semilla asked Emiliana about her own hopes for the future, she responded with wishes to provide better opportunities for her grandchildren, to continue planting the best quality specialty varieties, and to sit in one of the many international cafés that sell her coffee and enjoy a cup with a local buyer like you.
