Day 6. Honduras - Hacienda Monte Cristo

This Honduras SHG Hacienda Monte Cristo coffee comes from a family-owned farm in western Honduras, grown at 1,670 metres above sea level. Made from a blend of varietals including Anacafe 14, Etiozar, Marcelleza, several Catuai and Caturra types, Amarillo and Java it’s processed using the yellow honey method and dried slowly on raised beds. In the cup, expect soft notes of milk chocolate, nuts and tropical fruit, with a smooth sweetness and clean finish.

Coffee has been part of Honduran life for centuries, likely introduced from Costa Rica in the early 1800s. Today, Honduras is the largest coffee producer in Central America, and despite its ideal growing conditions, high altitude, fertile volcanic soil and skilled farming traditions, the country has long been overshadowed by neighbours such as Guatemala and Costa Rica. Infrastructure challenges and heavy rainfall in the north can make drying and transporting quality coffee difficult, meaning much of the national harvest ends up in the commodity market.

Yet Honduras is full of potential. Its classification system recognises the value of altitude-grown coffee, with Strictly High Grown (SHG) referring to lots grown above 1,200 masl. In recent years, investment from farmers, cooperatives and organisations like IHCAFE has helped shine more light on the exceptional coffees produced in regions tucked deep within the mountains.

Hacienda Monte Cristo is one such example. Owned by the Medina family for over five generations, the farm sits close to the Guatemalan border near Santa Rosa de Copán, in the fertile valleys of the Mayan Mountains. Spanning nearly 280 hectares, it operates in a mild subtropical climate that is perfectly suited to slow, even coffee maturation. Here, coffee is treated with great care: grown using environmentally responsible practices, monitored closely throughout its development, and processed with precision. The farm has also expanded its solar drying area to handle increasing production while maintaining strict quality control.

With each harvest, Hacienda Monte Cristo continues to build on more than a century of family stewardship, producing coffees that reflect both the landscape and the dedication behind them. The result is a sweet, balanced cup that captures the quiet strength of Honduras’ high mountain farms.