The Cup of Excellence (COE) is the only program currently in existence that mirrors the work we do in building relationships directly with our farmers, that is based on the quality of the coffee and desire to achieve it consistently. In 2007 I was able to try Saul Melara’s coffee both in the COE that year and in a special Western Honduras cupping event I was invited to judge in Santa Rosa de Copan….the gateway to Occidente & high quality coffee. In both instances I was delighted with the quality (assessed in blind tasting, not knowing it was his coffee until the end). I immediately searched him out way up high at 1700 MASL in the Ocotopeque region of SW Honduras, right along the El Salvador border.
I was delighted with the quality (assessed in blind tasting, not knowing it was his coffee until the end).
I began by talking with him about how we could work together…not just this year but also how we could support his quality efforts for years to come!
All these years later and I am proud to say we have been able to consistently support his efforts, buying most, and often all, of the harvest and supporting his family of 9 children.
I am proud to say we have been able to consistently support his efforts, buying most, and often all of the harvest.
Saul plants mostly Pacas on his windswept hillsides, that are covered by pines ( hence the name) and 3 species of maple, along with other more tropical shade plants. He has his own depulper and wet mill and uses a double-decker, raised bed greenhouse for drying, before taking to a beneficio for final milling, as it heads our way. He has a quiet and competent grip on the factors making this coffee so great, and we are truly honored to be able to support his efforts every year.