HONDURAS EL AMATE

Peach, stone fruit and a creamy caramel finish: Honduras El Amate is a smooth, sweet cup from the hills of Lempira. Cherry aromatics lead into soft, juicy stone fruit, lifted by a gentle red apple acidity and carried on a creamy body. It's balanced and easy to enjoy from first sip to last, and it proves some of the best things grow from humble beginnings.

COFFEE ORIGIN

High in the hills of Lempira, in the small community of La Granadilla, sits the farm of José Eduardo Ardon Melgar. When José's family took on the land in 2008, there wasn't a single coffee plant on it. There was just one amate tree, already 40 years old, standing watch over the hillside. Using their own resources, the family built the farm from scratch and named it after the tree that was there first.

Today José oversees 19 of the farm's 22 hectares in active production. A mix of varietals grows in rich clay-loam soil at around 1,450 metres above sea level. Each harvest, from December through February, around 60 pickers join José to hand-select the ripest cherries. The cherries are pulped on site, fermented for 12 hours and washed clean in channels. Then they're dried on the farm's own patios and rested in the family's warehouse until they're ready for market.

Country:  Honduras
Region:  San Andres, Lempira
Community: La Grandailla
Producer:  José Eduardo Ardon Melgar
Farm:  Finca El Amate
Varietals:  Catuai, Caturra, Ihcafe 90, Lempira, Amarillo
Process:  Washed
Altitude: 1,450 m above sea level

TASTING NOTES & CUPPING PROFILE

Honduras El Amate opens with aromas of ripe cherry and a lovely fruity hint of coffee pulp, a little reminder of the cherry the bean grew in. In the cup, soft peach and stone fruit take the lead, brightened by a crisp red apple acidity. The body is creamy and round, and the whole cup is beautifully balanced, finishing with a soft caramel sweetness. This is a gentle, comforting coffee that doesn't shout for attention - but rewards every sip.

Aromas: cherry, coffee pulp
Flavours: peach, stone fruit
Acidity:  red apple
Body: Medium
Balance: very good  
Aftertaste: soft, caramel 
Cupping Score: 84.25

BREW GUIDE

Espresso: The creamy body and caramel sweetness really shine here. Stone fruit and caramel are a lovely match for milk, so flat white and latte drinkers are in for a treat.

Pourover: Try the lighter roast through your V60 or Chemex. A steady, patient pour brings the peach and red apple forward for a clean, juicy cup.

Plunger or Aeropress: Full immersion leans into the creamy body and soft caramel finish. It's perfect for a smooth, easy morning brew.