Honduras San Vicente Ihcafe 90 - Reina Munoz (2019)

This is a washed SHG grade microlot from producer Reina Muñoz's farm Finca El Horizonte in the Montecillos region of south-west Honduras. This lot was produced as part of a collaborative project with Beneficio San Vincente. Read more about this project in our blog post, “New, Different, Exciting: Microlot Separation and Prep in Honduras.”

THE PRODUCER

Reina Muñoz Pineda is a small farmer from the community of Las Peñitas, Santa Barbara department. Reina owned this farm with her husband Don José Cruz López when they switched from farming vegetables to coffees in 2003. They grew their farm for many years with ups and downs, unsustainable prices and outbreaks of leaf rust. In May 2018 Don José presented some coffees to San Vincente who immediately saw the potential of their farm. Sadly, not long after this on José tragically lost his life in a motorcycle accident. The family was devastated by this news, but Reyna persevered. Dona Reina has taken on the role which her husband left behind to lead her family, inspire the next generation, and produce ever-improving coffee for the specialty market.

Finca El Horizonte is a 1.93ha farm situated at 1,600masl and in planted with 90% Ihcafe 90 and 10% Parainema varieties. This lot is 100% Ihcafe 90.

THE PROCESS

Ripe coffee cherries are pulped on sthe day of harvest and then dry fermented in a wooden box for 19-26 hours depending on climatic conditions. The coffee is then washed with up to 5 clean water changes until the remaining mucilage has been removed. After washing the coffee is pre-dried on raised beds for 3-5 hours, during which it is intensively handpicked to remove defects. It is then dried in the a solar drier/greenhouse for a further 12-22 days depending on the ambient conditions.

THE REGION

This coffee comes from the village of Las Peñitas on Santa Barbara Mountain, a mountainous massif with an area of 121.3 km2 and a maximum height of 2750 meters above sea level, which is mostly a virgin forest reserve declared as a national park since 1987.

Most of the native people of the area began to grow coffee since the 1940s, mainly in the lower areas, although it was always a secondary crop. From the 1970s, coffee became the main crop in the area, promoted by the rise in prices at that time, with Bourbon being the most widespread varieties. Since then coffee has become the basis of the local economy for these communities, as well as an important cultural element.

The Montecillos region is notable for its high altitude and subsequently cool temperatures, which allow coffee cherries to mature slowly and develop increased complexity in the cup.