Honduras Juan Benitez

Grown at 1,550-1,800 meters in the Santa Barbara highlands, this washed lot from Juan Benitez shines with Pineapple brightness, Candied Orange sweetness, and a custard-like finish. It’s a joyful, balanced expression of one of Honduras’s most celebrated growing regions.

Juan Benitez’s story begins in the south of Honduras, where he grew up before relocating to Santa Barbara in 1980. In his early years, he often traded labor for housing until he saved enough to purchase his own land in 1984. Fourteen years later, he and his family planted their first coffee trees, marking the start of a lifelong devotion to farming built on perseverance and gratitude. Today, Juan cultivates Typica, Bourbon, Pacas, and Catimor across six manzanas (about 10 acres), tending his farm with a mix of skill, humor, and deep affection for the land.

Visitors to Juan’s farm often find him singing among the trees, cowboy hat on and one of his grandchildren trailing close behind. When asked about his goals for the year, he smiled and said he hoped to buy a new hat, a glimpse into the easy warmth that defines him. That same warmth infuses his coffee, shaped by Santa Barbara’s fertile soils and cool mountain climate. Despite the challenges of each season, Juan approaches his work with lighthearted optimism and steady dedication. Vibrant, sweet, and full of character, this lot reflects the heart of a producer whose joy and dedication elevate every harvest.