Honduras is a land of great potential. It proved time and again to know how to put itself back on its feet after massive catastrophes. The last trial was hurricane Mitch in 1998. 

Coffee has been a key contributor to the country’s GDP. But despite their quality, Honduran beans have been mostly destined for the commercial-grade market. This under-labeling happened because local buyers deceived farmers about their coffee’s true worth. Farmers themselves smuggled their coffee into neighboring countries, where the beans could snatch a few pennies more.

With the recent advent of direct trade and the Cup of Excellence auctions, things took a better turn. Our farmers proved to grow the most delicate and exquisite coffee cultivars. Our San Ramon and Bourbon scored 90+ points on the cupping scale. 

Honduras showed to the world that their coffees are worth playing in the A-league. 

But there was one variety that has been missing in our shady micro-lots. The Queen of Beans. Her royal highness, Geisha.

So what is the ultimate goal behind the Geisha project?

Growing Geisha is difficult, but it can be rewarding. Not just for the plant variety, but the whole coffee farming system in Honduras.

Our coffee farms here are small-scale, family-run businesses. Most of them own fewer than two hectares of land. This makes a perfect base to grow specialty coffee, which calls for a boutique approach. But it comes with a downside. Our farmers don’t generate enough profits to invest in improving infrastructure and quality processes. When crises hit, there’s no golden parachute for them to rely on.

The government and the Honduran Institute for Coffee (IHCAFE) are doing all they can. But it’s not enough.

By introducing Geisha, we want to create an important revenue stream that will allow our farmers to invest more in improving all of their coffees—not just Geisha. We’ll also invest a considerable part from the sales of our other Spirit Animal coffees into building the project.

Do you have what it takes?

From a climate perspective, it couldn’t be a better match. Honduras’ soil is rich. The amount of rainfall is just right. Our coffee lots are protected by shades of surrounding trees, high up in the mountains. A perfect spot for Geisha.

Let’s be clear. We’re not aiming to produce the same Geisha coffee as our friends over in Panama or Colombia.

Geisha is a plant variety. As such, it adapts to the micro-climate of its surroundings. It will still be delicate and fruity, but it will bring out different nuances. The land, the minerals, the air, and the trees will stir a new story in our Geisha.

How can I be part of the Geisha project?

Our Geisha is finally available in our store and you can now get a bag of freshly roasted 91 Cup Score Geisha from our top producer Nahun Fernandez here.