Finca El Guaco | Honduras
£20.00
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About Tim Wendelboe
As a roaster, Tim goes beyond exceptional coffee—he's built a business rooted in transparency, fair purchasing, and direct farmer relationships. Since 2010 he’s published yearly transparency reports, revealing exactly who he buys from, how much he pays, and why. By paying sustainable, quality-based F.O.B. prices and cutting out...
Roaster notes
Tastes Like — 🌸 Floral • 🥭 Tropical Fruits • 🍊 Orange Zest
DETAILS
- Producers: Angel Arturo Paz
- Farm: Finca el Guaco
- Region: El Dorado, Santa Bárbara, Honduras
- Varietal: Maracaturra
- Process: Washed
- Altitude: 1,600-1,800 masl.
- Size:250g
INTRO — A Rare Hybrid with Tropical Intensity
Maracaturra is one of specialty coffee's most distinctive hybrids—a cross between the large-beaned Maragogipe and the compact Caturra. Whilst similar to Pacamara, Maracaturra carves out its own identity with pronounced citrus and tropical fruit characteristics that set it apart. It's a rare find, known for producing exceptional cup quality when cultivated in the right environment.
This lot from Finca el Guaco represents Angel Arturo Paz's first offering from his newest farm—a property he acquired in 2018 and has meticulously developed into a showcase for rare varietals. After years of working with Honduras's finest coffee producers, Angel has now stepped into the spotlight with his own exceptional production.
THE PRODUCER — Angel Arturo Paz & Finca el Guaco
Angel is the third generation of coffee producers in his family and has worked with coffee processing at the San Vicente mill since his youth. For over 20 years, he's been the bridge between Santa Bárbara's coffee farmers and the international market, serving as quality control manager and helping producers elevate their coffees to competition-winning standards.
His journey as a farm owner began in 2007 with La Colmena, where he planted Catuai and began producing his own micro-lots. Since 2011, Angel has consistently placed amongst the top producers in Honduras's Cup of Excellence competition, earning numerous awards for his meticulous work.
In 2018, Angel acquired Finca el Guaco in El Dorado, Santa Bárbara—a property he envisioned as a laboratory for rare cultivars. The farm sits adjacent to other renowned properties in the region, benefiting from ideal growing conditions and Angel's deep expertise in coffee processing. The 2021 harvest marked the farm's debut, and since then, it has consistently produced top-quality, distinctive coffees that reflect both the terroir and Angel's careful attention to detail.
THE PROCESS — Classic Washed Method with Shade-Dried Precision
Angel processes his coffee using traditional washed methods, but with several key refinements that enhance cup quality and longevity. The process includes a crucial final step that sets his coffee apart: shade-drying on raised beds at the family mill in Peña Blanca.
- 🍒 Selective Hand Picking — Only the ripest cherries are harvested through careful selective picking
- ⚙️ Afternoon Depulping — Cherries are depulped the same day they're picked
- 🔬 24-Hour Dry Fermentation — Parchment coffee, still coated in mucilage, ferments in open stainless steel tanks
- 💧 Washing & Grading — Mucilage is thoroughly washed off and light, defective beans are removed by flotation
- 🌤️ Shade-Drying on Raised Beds — Coffee is transported to Peña Blanca and dried slowly under shade
- 👐 Hand Sorting During Drying — Defective beans are continuously removed throughout the drying process
- 📦 Careful Storage — Dried parchment is stored in airtight GrainPro bags before milling and vacuum-packing for export
The shade-drying protocol is particularly important—it allows the coffee to dry more slowly and evenly, which helps preserve the vibrant, fresh character of the green coffee for longer periods.
THE CUP — Tropical Fruit Intensity with Citrus Brightness
This is Maracaturra expressing its full potential—a coffee that bursts with tropical fruit aromatics and zesty citrus notes that dance across the palate. From the first sip, you're greeted with intense floral perfume that evolves into layers of ripe tropical fruit and bright, clean citrus acidity.
Flavour Notes
- 🌸 Floral — perfumed, bright, intoxicating lift
- 🥭 Tropical Fruits — juicy, sweet stone fruit intensity
- 🍊 Orange Zest — vibrant, clean, sparkling citrus finish
The finish is long and complex, with a silky body and effervescent acidity that keeps the cup lively and refreshing. This is what makes Maracaturra so special—when grown at high altitude and processed with Angel's level of care, it delivers a cup that's both intensely fruity and remarkably clean, showcasing the best of what Honduran coffee can achieve.
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What does 'Filter' or 'Espresso' Roast mean?
Typically filter is roasted lighter than espresso, though this is not always the case. Several factors play into what brands a Manhattan coffee as 'filter' or 'espresso', which includes the roast profile - i.e. how the beans are roasted, not just how developed a roast it is. It doesn't preclude you from using the beans for espresso though!
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