Last year was our first in a few where we saw a return on our offer list to a lot from Honduras. This lot was Herly Urquai, and it saw a rather different profile compared to the heavily fermented and tangy lots of Norma from 5 years ago. A much more refined natural, and a fantastic coffee for our Sweet & Balanced category. You guys seemed to agree, with it being our fastest selling and maybe most enjoyed lot of its sort last year! This year we are lucky to source another lot of its kind, and extremely similar cup profile through Cafe Imports again. This year Mario Mejía will be another favourite of this category for sure. The profile has depth and is comforting in many ways, sweet strawberry is the upfront note, one of those ripe strawberries at that, leaning into the sweetness as opposed to acidity. Nutty almonds, alongside a sweet cakey-ness and cherry delight take over, think Bakewell Tart, rounded out by lingering deep chocolate tones. Very moreish.
MARIO MEJIA
In the misty highlands of La Paz, Honduras, Mario Mejía is redefining what it means to be a specialty coffee producer. A second-generation farmer with a progressive mindset, Mario manages three distinct farms—Finca El Coyote, Finca La Valentina, and Finca El Jardín—each with its own microclimate, elevation, and personality. Together, they form a trio of terroir-driven operations that showcase the range and richness of the La Paz region.
Mario Mejía brings the curiosity of a craftsman and the discipline of a steward to his work. Across all three farms, he emphasises traceability, experimentation, and environmental sustainability. His efforts have garnered attention on international cupping tables, but he remains rooted in his community—supporting local workers, sharing knowledge, and elevating the reputation of La Paz as a hub for high-quality coffee.
FINCA EL JARDÍN
Tucked among native shade trees, Finca El Jardín offers a more biodiverse, poly cultural environment. With elevations ranging from 1,300 to 1,500 meters, it supports experimental lots including Parainema and other hybrids. El Jardín is where Mario blends innovation with conservation—he’s been exploring agroforestry practices and slow-drying techniques that yield deeply layered profiles with tropical fruit, herbal spice, and silky texture.
Although this offering is not traceable to a single variety, it is likely comprised of Bourbon, Catuai, Caturra, IHCAFE 90, and Lempira — the most commonly cultivated varieties in this region.
LA PAZ
La Paz, an area famous for coffee production in Honduras, is high in elevation with cool temperatures. These factors cause coffees to ripen slowly, developing sugars that are then processed in these comfortable climates. These coffees have high fruity sweetness with flavors of berries or peach. Cafe Import's greatest relationship in this area is a 270-producer cooperative, many of which are woman producers or Organic certified. Coffees from La Paz are extremely stable, and reliable as any offering type.
(In partnership with Cafe Imports)
