Story
Benjamin Paz is a coffee producer, roaster, and exporter in Santa Barbara, Honduras. Outside of running his own successful coffee farm (He placed 1st in the Honduras Cup of Excellence this year) and roasting program, he is also the liaison for the greater Santa Barbara region through his mill and exporting company San Vicente. Benjamin manages hundreds of relationships with the producer group in Santa Barbara, connecting each with a roasting partner who can grow with each coffee producer they’re partnered with. A true legend of the industry, Benjamin does it all with a smile on his face and a deep love for coffee and the people that grow it.
Through Ben and San Vicente, we’ve established a sourcing program over the years with almost a dozen coffee producers in the area. Each season we visit with the people in the region, sharing meals and talking about the harvest and special projects. During our most recent visit, there was an unknown coffee that stood out on the table. We were struck by distinct florals and elegant sweetness characterized by dynamic acidity and a long aftertaste. Once we inquired about this offering, we discovered this microlot grown by Mila de Lara. A small-holder producer in El Cedral, Mila produces a few exotic varieties like this Gesha variety. We purchased this small lot with hopes to visit next season.
WASHED PROCESSED COFFEES
The washed process begins with coffee cherries delivered to the washing station, both from the primary market or from farmers bringing their coffee directly to the mill. The cherries are inspected, and an initial quick round of hand-sorting separates the defective coffees before placing them into the hopper. They are then funneled to the depulper, which removes the fruit from the seeds (beans). After that phase is done, the coffee is fermented underwater for approximately 12-36 hours. During this fermentation, a microbial de-mucilagation takes place, which allows the outer fruit and pectin layer to break down, making the coffee easier to dry. This phase also crucially alters the organic acids within the coffee, as sugars and organic acids are transformed, with the best washed coffees maintaining their complex fruit esters. Once the fermentation is complete, the parchment is emptied into the washing channels, where it is agitated with rakes to remove the last of the fruit layer. During this step, the water is refreshed to ensure its capability of separating the fruit layer from the seed. Once the washing is complete, the coffee is taken to the raised drying tables for sun drying.
