Honduras Santa Elena
Walter Argueta
Katelinne H.
Wednesday, December 04, 2024
— Updated December 11, 2024
Honduras Santa ELena
Fresh Roasted Coffee offers the exclusive opportunity to try unique coffee selections through their Roaster's Choice Program. Each coffee is hand-selected by FRC to highlight both the unique flavor profile and the story behind the bean. Fresh Roasted Coffee's pick for January 2024 is no exception. Introducing: Honduras Santa Elena - Walter Argueta
Grower:Â Walter Argueta
Region: Santa Elena, La Paz, Honduras
Cultivar: Catuai, 12,000 plants 10-20 years old
Harvest: January 2024 - March 2024
Altitude: 1600 masl
Process: Fully washed
Drying: Dried on patios inside solar dryers
Roast Level: Medium
Roast Body: Mild
Cupping Notes: Honey Cornbread, Tangerine, Molasses
The Road to Excellence
Nestled near Aguasinga, Honduras, Walter Argueta’s 4-acre farm is an emerging hub of sustainable and innovative coffee practices. For years, Walter sold his coffee cherries to local middlemen, limiting his opportunities for growth. However, two years ago, everything changed when he partnered with Catracha Coffee, a collective committed to empowering small-scale coffee farmers in Santa Elena.
This partnership allowed Walter to create his first micro-lot—a premium batch of coffee produced through improved farm management techniques.
Walter’s improvements are nothing short of revolutionary. By using lime to control the pH of his soil, and applying organic compost fertilizers and natural fungicides, Walter has been able to effectively combat pesky coffee diseases that plague Honduran coffee. His switch to organic practices has resulted in healthier, higher-quality yields, providing him a better return, which he reinvests into his farm.Â
Once Walter's coffee cherries are ripe, they are picked and immediately prepared for processing. They don't have to travel far, as Walter's private micro-mill is conveniently located on his property. This allows every step of the meticulous process:
Depulping begins within 24 hours of harvest.
The beans are then fermented in cement tanks for another 24 hours.
Finally, the beans are washed and dried on raised beds for 15 days.
Once Walter is certain that his coffee beans are ready for sale, he sends them to Catracha Coffee. There, the beans are carefully inspected for defects, weighed, and set out to complete the drying process. Afterward, they rest in a warehouse for about a month before being taken to a dry mill for final milling. Once milled and bagged, the coffee is finally ready for export.
The Role of Catracha Coffee in Santa Elena
Founded by Mayra Orellana-Powell in 2010, Catracha Coffee has become a lifeline for more than 80 coffee producers in Santa Elena, La Paz, Honduras. The company operates on a profit-sharing model, ensuring that farmers like Walter earn a minimum of $2.00 per pound of coffee. This investment supports better farming techniques, higher-quality beans, and a brighter future for their families.
In 2014, Catracha Coffee launched the Catracha Quality Project, aiming to help producers improve the quality of their coffee by analyzing processing and cupping data. This information is shared with farmers over the years, enabling producers like Walter to make more informed decisions about growing and processing their coffee.
Beyond coffee, Catracha Coffee’s nonprofit initiative, Catracha Community , enriches the lives of Santa Elena's residents through:
Craft workshops for women and youth
An artist-in-residence program to foster creativity in the community
Sustainable gardening projects , including a seed bank and tree nursery
A weekly farmer's market where local crafters and farmers can sell their goods
Sponsored field trips for local youth
Spay and neuter initiatives for the Santa Elena's stray dogs
Mayra Orellana-Powell hosts many of these community programs from her own residence. Her home features a small coffee roasting lab, where she offers coffee classes to interested locals. It also includes a large outdoor traditional kitchen and gardens, used for cooking and gardening classes. Everything Catracha Community does aims to improve sustainability and quality of life for the people of Santa Elena—and it’s primarily funded by coffee revenue.
Why Subscribe to Roaster's Choice?
By subscribing to Fresh Roasted Coffee's Roaster's Choice program, customers can directly support farmers like Walter Argueta and communities like Santa Elena. With every extraordinary cup, you're not just enjoying exceptional coffee—you’re also contributing to a sustainable coffee ecosystem. Each purchase helps improve the livelihoods of producers, their families, and their communities.
Whether you’re drawn to its unique flavor profile or its inspiring story, Santa Elena Coffee is a brew you’ll love—and a cause you’ll feel good supporting.
How Do I Get This Coffee?
Snagging a bag of January's Roaster's Choice selection is easy! Just click the button below and sign up for a Roaster's Choice subscription before January 13th, 2025, to receive a bag of Honduras Santa Elena.
Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC offers Roaster's Choice coffees in bagged coffee as well as classic pods. Subscribers can choose from a 3-, 6- or 12- month subscription plans.
