Honduras — Nelson Moreno El Paraíso Bourbon (Anaerobic Washed)

Tastes Like — 🍒 Cherry • 🍊 Sweet Citrus • 🍬 Marzipan • 🍪 Butter Cookies

DETAILS

• Producer: Nelson Moreno
• Farm: El Paraíso
• Region: Cedral, Santa Bárbara, Honduras
• Varietal: Bourbon
• Process: Anaerobic Washed
• Elevation: 1,610 masl

INTRO From Nelson Moreno's idyllic farm overlooking the village of Cedral in Santa Bárbara, Honduras — supremely sweet, nuanced, and complex. Big red fruit energy, like cherry, meets sweet citrus acidity and a confectionery sweetness reminiscent of marzipan and butter cookies. In the cup: cherry, sweet citrus, marzipan, and butter cookies.

THE PRODUCER The Moreno family has produced spectacular coffee in Santa Bárbara, Honduras, for several generations, with over 30 family members now working individual plots on nearby hillsides, sharing both labour and processing across each harvest. While brother Evin Moreno may be the more recognisable name, Nelson Moreno is making waves in his own right from his farm above Cedral, where he and much of his family live. A visit to the farm in May confirmed what many already knew — Nelson remains one of the kindest people in the region to work with.

THE PROCESS Cherries are picked at peak ripeness and taken to the wet mill, where they ferment anaerobically in plastic barrels for 72 hours. They're then de-pulped without water and moved into open fermentation tanks for a further 16 hours. The parchment is rinsed thoroughly three times before drying in a parabolic solar dryer for about 16 days, until optimal moisture is reached.

The combination of 72-hour anaerobic fermentation followed by a second 16-hour open fermentation is the defining step — together with the farm's microclimate and Bourbon variety, it builds the supreme sweetness and confectionery complexity that define this cup.

THE CUP Sweet, nuanced, and complex — cherry-like red fruit energy up front, sweet citrus acidity through the middle, and a marzipan and butter cookie sweetness on the finish. Approachable enough to share with family, elevated enough for the cupping table.

Flavour Notes 🍒 Cherry 🍊 Sweet Citrus 🍬 Marzipan 🍪 Butter Cookies