Honduras San Juan Sitio 1 Washed Bourbon Specialty Coffee Beans: Growing Conditions, Geographic Location, and Climate

Because Honduras lies in the tropics, San Juancito sees little temperature variation across the year. What would be called winter here is in fact the rainy season, while what would be called summer is the dry season. In tropical regions, altitude shapes temperature more than the timing of rainfall does. Sitting at an elevation of over 1,239 meters above sea level, San Juancito feels slightly cool in every season. During the summer months (March to June), the high often reaches around 26°C, while the low averages about 18°C. In winter, the average high is 20°C, with lows around 14°C.

The modern economy of San Juancito depends largely on agriculture, most of it small-scale coffee farming. The local climate and altitude are exceptionally favorable for producing high-quality beans. COMISAJUL, a cooperative organization of hundreds of smallholder coffee farmers in central Honduras, is based in San Juancito. It was formed by several hundred growers from the surrounding area, and here coffee is grown on mountains at elevations of 1,450-1,550 meters, shaded by fruit trees such as bananas, avocados, and papayas. During harvest, farmers hand-pick the ripe cherries, which are then processed using the washed method and sun-dried. The fermentation water carrying pulp and skin from the washing stage is collected and reused as fertilizer for the coffee trees. This lot drinks very clean, with high sweetness, very gentle acidity, and clear milk chocolate flavors.

Variety: Bourbon

Producer: COMISAJUL Cooperative

San Juancito is a small village in central Honduras, located 40 kilometers northeast of the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa. The town belongs to the Francisco Morazán jurisdiction, which also takes in Nuevo Rosario, Guacamaya, and Plan Grande, and which has a total population of approximately 1,400.

San Juancito was once known for its mineral deposits, but today it stands out for sitting inside the buffer zone of La Tigra National Park, a rainforest ecosystem and Honduras' first national park. The park functions as a vast watershed, supplying drinking water to the capital's 500,000 residents.

Flavor Profile: Clean, Roasted Nuts, Milk Chocolate

Manufacturer: FrontStreet Coffee Address: No. 10 Bao'an Qian Street, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou Contact: 020-38364473 Ingredients: Home-roasted Shelf Life: 30 days Net Weight: 227g Packaging: Bulk Taste: Mellow and aromatic Coffee Bean State: Roasted beans Sugar Content: Sugar-free Origin: Honduras Coffee Type: Other Roast Level: Medium roast

Honduras San Juancito Lot#1

Country: Honduras

Region: San Juancito

Altitude: 1,450-1,550 meters

Processing Method: Washed

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

This San Juancito lot is a washed coffee, and if its clean, sweet, low-acid profile is what you are after, the most natural match on FrontStreet's list is FrontStreet Yirgacheffe Gedingding Cooperative. It is an Ethiopian G1 washed coffee from the Gedingding village processing team, prized for its particularly refined and clean cup. The washed process brings out jasmine florals and bright citrus acidity to the fullest, and a medium-light roast adds green tea and honey notes. Like this Honduran lot, it suits pour-over, cold brew, and espresso, and it shares the same clean, transparent character.

For a more fruit-driven but still washed option, FrontStreet Kenya Small Tomato is an excellent choice. Kenya is known for its double-washed technique, and this coffee is a classic example: a Kenyan specialty washed bean from the Sika region, grown at 1,550-1,750 meters from the local SL28 and SL34 varieties. Repeated washing and soaking draw out an intensely juicy cup with bright cherry tomato, smoked plum, pear, black plum, and brown sugar notes. Where the Honduran lot leans on milk chocolate and roasted nuts, the Kenyan lot leans on vivid, mouth-filling fruit acid, so the two make a rewarding pair for anyone who enjoys the clarity of the washed process.