Arturo Paz - Washed Pacas | Honduras

Honduras — Ángel Arturo Paz Ramírez, Finca El Itacayo, Pacas (Washed)

Tastes Like — 🍑 Stone Fruits • 🍂 Cinnamon • 🍬 Sugar Cane

DETAILS

• Producer: Ángel Arturo Paz Ramírez
• Farm: Finca El Itacayo
• Region: La Unión El Dorado, Santa Bárbara, Honduras
• Varietal: Pacas
• Process: Washed
• Altitude: 1600 MASL
• Harvest: 2025
• Size: 250g

INTRO

Finca El Itacayo is one of Honduras' most internationally recognised specialty coffee farms. Led by Ángel Arturo Paz Ramírez, the project is built on three pillars: quality, sustainability, and traceability. At 1,600 metres in the lush highlands of Santa Bárbara, Arturo cultivates Geisha, Pacas, SL-28, and Bourbon under natural shade — a deliberately diverse portfolio that speaks to his long-term vision for the farm.

El Itacayo has achieved high scores at the Cup of Excellence Honduras and exports its microlots to specialty markets worldwide, earning Arturo a reputation as one of the country's most dedicated and technically accomplished producers.

THE PRODUCER

Arturo's approach to farming at El Itacayo reflects a harmony between tradition and innovation. Natural shade management protects local forests, water sources, and biodiversity, whilst his precise harvesting and post-harvest protocols consistently deliver exceptional cup scores. His investment in a solar house dryer and meticulous temperature control during drying exemplify the level of care that has earned El Itacayo its international standing. This is specialty coffee grown with a clear conscience and an exacting eye for quality.

THE PROCESS

The Washed process at Finca El Itacayo involves:

• 🍒 Selective Harvesting & Hand Sorting — Only perfectly ripe cherries are picked; a careful hand selection before pulping ensures only the finest fruit enters the process.
• 🔧 Pulping — Cherries are pulped the same afternoon as picking.
• 🧪 Barrel Fermentation — Pulped beans ferment in plastic barrels.
• 💧 Tank Washing — Coffee is transferred to stainless steel tanks and thoroughly washed to remove all mucilage.
• ☀️ Solar House Drying — Coffee dries on raised beds inside a solar house dryer, with temperature carefully maintained below 40°C throughout.
• 🌡️ Moisture Targeting — Drying continues until ideal moisture of 10% is achieved.
• 📅 Resting & Packing — Coffee rests overnight before packing in nylon bags with GrainPro liners to preserve stable humidity.

The result is a clean, expressive Pacas that fully reflects the altitude and care of El Itacayo.

THE CUP

A warmly approachable washed Honduras with stone fruit sweetness at its core. Cinnamon spice weaves through the mid-palate, whilst sugar cane brings a natural, unrefined sweetness to the finish — a satisfying and comforting cup of considerable quality.

Flavour Notes

• 🍑 Stone Fruits
• 🍂 Cinnamon
• 🍬 Sugar Cane