How did a washed geisha win the Honduras 2024 COE?

La Salsa estate in Honduras won the 2024 Cup of Excellence with a washed Geisha scoring 91.21 points. Owner Benjamin Paz Muñoz took the top spot again after 2022. The Opalaca region, where the estate is located, claimed eight of the top ten places as Honduras marked the 20th anniversary of hosting the competition, an event tied to the global reputation of geisha coffee from Panama.

Honduras is now the second-largest coffee exporter in Central America and the tenth-largest worldwide. The Honduran Coffee Institute, founded in 1970, divided the country into six producing regions with average altitudes above 1,100 meters and harvests from November to March. COE remains one of the most authoritative specialty coffee competitions and the first internet auction platform for awarded coffees, drawing attention to lots with high cupping scores.

As the second-largest coffee exporter in Central America and the tenth-largest in the world, Honduras has become an important origin for specialty coffee thanks to its superior geographical and climatic conditions. In 2024, Honduras celebrated the 20th anniversary of hosting the Cup of Excellence (COE), with the Opalaca region standing out particularly, taking eight of the top ten places. La Salsa estate from this region won the COE championship with a washed Geisha scoring 91.21 points. Estate owner Benjamin Paz Muñoz claimed the top spot again after 2022, demonstrating his remarkable strength. This article introduces Honduras' coffee terroir, the flavor characteristics of the Opalaca region, and the varieties and operations of La Salsa estate. Front Street Coffee also continues to follow the subsequent performance of this champion bean.

With its unique geographical and climatic conditions, Central America has nurtured many coffee-producing countries, such as El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica, and Honduras. Among them, Honduras has now risen to become the second-largest coffee exporter in Central America and the tenth-largest in the world.

Honduras Honduras

Honduras is located in northern Central America, with more than three-quarters of its territory consisting of mountains and plateaus. Plains are found only along the coast, while the interior is mainly plateaus and valleys, and forests cover about half of the country's area.

The country has a tropical climate. The coastal plains have a tropical rainforest climate, with an average annual temperature of about 23°C and abundant rainfall. Coupled with complex terrain and a mountainous environment, temperatures are relatively mild. These conditions are all very suitable for coffee cultivation.

Coffee-producing regions

In 1970, the Honduran Coffee Institute (IHCAFE) was established to help local coffee farmers improve cultivation techniques and coffee quality, and divided the country into six major regions: Copán, Opalaca, Montecillos, Comayagua, Agalta Tropical, and El Paraíso. The average altitude of these regions is above 1,100 meters, and the harvest season runs from November to March of the following year.

COE (Cup of Excellence) is one of the most authoritative specialty coffee competitions in the world and the first internet auction platform for globally awarded coffee. Therefore, many countries host COE events to establish more connections with the international community and raise awareness of their origins.

Honduras is naturally no exception. 2024 coincided with the 20th anniversary of the country's hosting of the Cup of Excellence. In this year's COE competition, the Opalaca region performed especially prominently, with 8 of the top 10 places coming from this region.

Opalaca region: Located between Santa Bárbara, Intibucá, and Lempira departments, it has very delicate acidity, overall balance, and a cup profile with tropical fruit notes such as grape and mulberry. The finish is sweet and tart, showing strong lemon flavor, balanced by the sweetness of honey and caramel, with obvious fruit flavors. Altitude 1,100-1,700 meters, annual rainfall 1,350-1,900 millimeters. And La Salsa estate from the Opalaca region won the 2024 COE championship with a washed Geisha, scoring 91.21 points.

La Salsa Estate

At present, the estate is located in Santa Bárbara Department at an altitude of 1,680 meters. The estate owner is Benjamin Paz Muñoz. This is not Benjamin's first championship; he also won the COE championship in 2022.

At present, Benjamin grows many varieties at La Salsa estate, such as Bourbon, Typica, Pacas, SL28, and Geisha, and he also jointly operates the San Vicente coffee processing facility with his cousins Arturo Paz and Fidel Paz. It is equipped with advanced equipment to ensure the production of high-quality coffee beans. In addition, Benjamin also helps local roasters and growers, thereby improving the quality of coffee grown in the mountains of Santa Bárbara Department.

Front Street Coffee will also continue to follow subsequent lots from La Salsa estate, bringing coffee lovers more tasting information about champion beans.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.