Gumercindo Ventura, Honduras

A returning favorite from Honduras!

We're excited to release this year's coffee from producer Gumercindo Ventura. Almost like clockwork since 2016, we look forward to rolling out Gumercindo's coffee just as the season is starting to change from Summer to Fall. This coffee brings with it, consistent flavors appropriate to the new season.

We first discovered Gumercindo's coffee through the Catracha Project, a program started by Honduras native Mayra Orellana-Powell to showcase the coffees from here hometown of Santa Elena in that country's department of La Paz.  Mayra's grandmother had a small coffee farm in Santa Elena, so Mayra knows first hand the struggle that small producers go through to cultivate and sell their coffee, and then to stretch the proceeds throughout the year to feed their families.  Wanting to help her community to rise out of this cycle, Mayra attained a business degree from a college in Iowa before starting the Catracha Coffee Company, named “Catracha” because it is the nickname for a Honduran woman.

At a tasting of coffees from different Catracha project producers, we first discovered this wonderfully sweet coffee from Gumercindo's farm. After learning more about the project and Mayra's work within that community, we committed to buying Gumercindo's coffee and have continued to do so every year since.  Our purchase not only supports Gumercindo's family, a cut of the proceeds are re-invested by the Catracha Project back into the Santa Elena community in the form of educational opportunities, health care, and supplies for community gardens which help feed the town all year round.

As always, this coffee brings an apple-like sweetness to the cup, with a signature note of almond in the finish.  We look forward to this coffee every year, and while this years' harvest is bigger than before, supplies will be limited!

Sourced from the Santa Elena region of La Paz, this Honduras offering represents the dedicated work of producer Gumercindo Ventura. As a coffee origin, this area is recognized for its distinct microclimates that contribute to the development of complex profiles. When evaluating such coffees, roasters like Highwire Coffee Roasters often look for a balance between acidity and body, aiming to highlight the inherent characteristics of the harvest.

In this specific lot, the cup presents an apple-like sweetness complemented by a subtle almond finish. To better understand how these descriptors fit into the broader spectrum of coffee quality and sensory evaluation, it is helpful to reference the flavor wheel. While every harvest is unique, exploring the specific terroir of La Paz provides a window into the diverse landscape of Central American coffee production, showcasing the meticulous efforts of producers like Ventura in bringing high-quality beans to the global market.