Juan Pablo Gomez Honduras Planes Village Pacayal
A coffee tasting of orange peel, molasses and plum.
Finca Name: Planes
Finca Location: Planes, Agua Blanca (village), San
Miguelito (municipality), Intibucá (state),Honduras
Finca Size: almost 1 hectare
Varieties: IHCAFE90
Average plant age: 6 years
Processing: Washed
Elevation: 1700 meters above sea level
Finca characteristics: Minimum of 50% of the finca shaded with banana, plantain, oranges, peaches, apples and Inga trees (“guama” in Spanish) used for timber.
It was ten years ago that Juan Pablo began planting coffee on his land to see how well it would do. He produces coffee, maize, beans and potatoes, as well as keeping cows and chickens. Juan Pablo and his family live and work on their finca. From their home, they have a view of the Pacayal Volcano.
Juan Pablo expressed that coffee production is labour intensive. He cleans the finca throughout the year, in summer using a pickaxe and in winter, a machete. He fertilizes his finca with “gallinaza” - chicken manure. Juan Pablo does all the fermentation and pre-drying process at his finca, later transporting his coffee by mule to the cooperative where they finish the drying process. The cooperative is located about 20 km away, a 2.5-hour journey by foot. Hurricanes Eta and Iota, passed through Honduras in October and November 2020, resulting in very cold temperatures and intense rainfalls, which washed away fertilizers and caused landslides that blocked roadways. Fortunately, Juan Pablo’s coffee saw an increase in its cupping score from last year.
Juan Pablo’s coffee is ready to be harvested between mid-February and March. His goal is to keep working and continue his passion of agriculture and for his family. He hopes to continue selling his coffee into the international market to obtain better and fairer prices. He keeps a portion of his coffee
production for personal consumption, roasting the coffee with pepper at a low temperature on a “comal” – a flat pan used to cook tortillas.
The cooperative COCASMIL was formed in 1999 in San Miguelito, Intibucá beginning with 25 producers. Now, in 2020, there are 227 producers and a further 20 who want to join. Women and youth form part of the cooperative’s Board of Directors and its various committees. The cooperative offers its members mechanical and solar drying, and 45 members have organic certification. COCASMIL has previously sold their coffee internationally, exporting a total of 18.000 QQ PS in 2019-2020. The cooperative is in the process of getting their Fair Trade and Organic certifications. The cooperative cups all the coffees it receives.
Grind Guide
Fine - AeroPress, Stove top Espresso
Medium - Drip
Coarse - French Press, Pour Over, Percolator
