Rinaldo's Coffee: Honduras, Altos De Erapuca, Washed

Finca Altos de Erapuca is a relatively new coffee farm which was established in 2008, with its second harvest in December 2014. Previously the land had been given over to cattle but with an altitude of 1,300 to 1,360 meters above sea level, owner Carlos Efrain Paz Sevilla recognised the farm's great potential for producing coffee. With many years’ experience in coffee, through the management of other family farms, Carlos planted entirely Catuai making the farm something of an oasis in a land of Cattimore – the varietal that has greater rust resistance but much less complexity in the cup.

The farm is located in Copan, on the slopes of Honduras’s second highest mountain – Erapuca. It’s a dramatic volcano-like mountain with its conical shape and though the slopes don’t benefit from mineral rich volcanic ash, the land is fertile and soil quality is excellent. The mountain’s peak reaches 2,255 meters above sea level. Finca Altos de Erapuca is a big farm since there are 264 hectares of protected rainforest, but upon 24 hectares there is an abundance of healthy looking Catuai

Finca Altos de Erapuca is now both Rainforest Alliance and Organically certified. The coffee is fertilised three times per year and the harvest begins tentatively in December, but hits full swing in January and February, with shipments starting in April.  Only compounds permitted by the organic certifiers can be used, making the fight against leaf-rust even tougher.