Here's why coffee beans from Honduras taste so great!
It’s fair to say that say Honduras hasn’t always had the best of luck. Over the years, it’s seen violence, poverty, and some of the most horrific natural disasters imaginable. To make matters worse, many believe it’s likely to suffer considerably at the hands of global warming. Yet somehow, the Honduran people have pulled together time and time again to overcome these challenges, and there couldn’t be a better example of this than the country’s coffee success story.
Today, we’ll be delving a little deeper to find out what makes its story so unique.
Coffee plants are believed to have been first introduced by traders in the 18th century. Initial attempts to promote the commodity failed, and it was in fact bananas that became the crop of choice. Thankfully, coffee farmers eventually found their feet, and widespread cultivation was well under way by the late 20th century. To begin with, Honduras lacked the basic infrastructure and skills needed to produce high quality coffee. One of the main reasons for this was the extreme landscape – 75% of the land in Honduras is mountainous. Another issue was the lack of money being made and reinvested into the industry.
For a long time the coffee industry suffered from cross-border smuggling, which saw farmers selling their beans in neighbouring Guatemala, where they’d be offered a better price. Fortunately, government taxes on coffee exports, that had previously been introduced, eventually began to filter through. Suddenly, smuggling coffee seemed less attractive, and the additional money raised was ploughed back into improving skills and infrastructure.
From here, the farmers and government were able to work together towards a better future. As well passing laws to offer growing incentives, the government opened up a plethora of remote farms by building a network of dedicated highways. In addition, it’s been able to invest large sums of money into soil analysis, in attempts to ensure the most effective fertilisers are used.
Interestingly, coffee production in Honduras isn’t led by a few large corporations, like banana production is. In fact, 92% of the 110,000 producers registered are considered ‘small producers’. Despite this, Honduras has been able to establish itself as a real force to be reckoned with when it comes to high quality coffee. By 2011 it had become Central America’s biggest coffee producer, and by 2012 it was the 7th biggest in the world.
Like many Central American coffees, Honduran coffee promises a wide range of flavour profiles. Whether you’re looking for sweet and fruity, bright and acidic or even deep and complex, you can be certain to find a favourite within its diverse spectrum.
If you’re mad about Honduran coffee, or even if you’ve never tasted it before, we promise you’ll adore our very own single-origin Honduran offering. This slightly nutty roast, with fleeting notes of caramel, is delivered alongside a subtle sweetness that’s so typical of roasts comprised exclusively of great quality Arabica beans.
Here at Clumsy Goat, everything is roasted in small batches to ensure maximum freshness. Plus, everything is 100% Fairtrade certified so your conscience can be cleared as your thirst is quenched!
If you’d like to learn more about our Honduran roast, be sure to click here!