Central America

Mexico

Carved by the Sierra Madre ranges and kissed by warm Gulf breezes, Mexico turns out coffees prized for their mellow sweetness, delicate citrus and crowd-pleasing chocolate finish. Shade-grown Typica, Bourbon and Catuaí cherries ripen slowly under cloud-forest canopies, then undergo careful washed or honey processing that preserves crisp clarity while layering in brown-sugar depth.

Key regions:
Chiapas · Oaxaca · Veracruz

Typical elevation:
900 – 1900 m

Dominant processing:
Fully washed (with rising honey & natural lots)

Cup profile:
Milk chocolate, toasted almond, piloncillo sweetness, gentle orange–lime acidity

Hand-picked by smallholder farmers, many from Indigenous communities, cherries are depulped in mountain micro-beneficios, fermented overnight in cool air and sun-dried on patios or raised beds. Volcanic loam, high humidity and marked day-night temperature swings concentrate sugars, yielding a balanced cup that marries silky body with citrus acidity - versatile for comforting filter brews or creamy, nut-forward espressos.

Guatemala

Rimmed by active volcanoes and swept by cool Pacific and Caribbean winds, Guatemala cultivates coffees renowned for their refined sweetness, vibrant citrus and fragrant spice. Dense shade canopies, dramatic slopes and mineral-rich pumice soils nurture Bourbon, Caturra and Typica cherries that balance crystalline acidity with velvety cocoa depth.

Key regions:
Antigua · Huehuetenango · Atitlán · Cobán · Fraijanes

Typical elevation:
1300 – 2000 m+

Dominant processing:
Fully washed (select estates exploring honey & natural)

Cup profile:
Brown-sugar sweetness, orange zest & red-apple brightness, floral spice, silky cocoa body

Picked by hand on steep terraces, cherries are depulped the same day, fermented in cool mountain water and patio- or raised-bed-dried beneath clear, high-altitude skies. Diurnal swings of 20 °C or more slow maturation, concentrating sugars and aromatics. The result is a cup that layers citrus sparkle and baking-spice nuance over a plush chocolate foundation - equally compelling as a clean, fragrant pour-over or a structured, dessert-like espresso.

Honduras

Blanketed by cloud-forests that crest the Sierra de Celaque and cooled by Caribbean trade winds, Honduras now rivals its neighbors with coffees that fuse caramel depth to bright, tropical sparkle. Shade-grown Pacas, Bourbon and Catuai cherries slowly ripen in rich volcanic loam, then undergo meticulous washed and honey processing that preserves crystalline clarity while layering brown-sugar sweetness.

Key regions:
Santa Bárbara · Copán · Marcala (Montecillos) · Opalaca

Typical elevation:
1000 – 1800 m

Dominant processing:
Fully washed (surging honey & natural microlots)

Cup profile:
Panela & caramel sweetness, stone-fruit and pineapple acidity, cocoa-nib body, jasmine nuance

Picked by hand on steep, mist-kissed slopes, cherries are depulped in micro-beneficios, fermented overnight in cool mountain air, and slow-dried on solar patios or raised beds. Wide day-night swings concentrate sugars, while fertile red loam layers in cacao and spice. The result is a cup that marries orchard-fruit vibrancy with silky chocolate structure - perfect for expressive filter brews or comforting, syrupy espressos.

Nicaragua

Swept by cool Atlantic breezes and anchored by fertile volcanic highlands, Nicaragua produces coffees prized for their brown-sugar sweetness, red-apple brightness and silky cocoa finish. Shade-grown Caturra, Bourbon and Maragogype cherries mature slowly on mist-draped slopes, then undergo meticulous washed and honey processing that preserves crisp clarity while layering caramel depth.

Key regions:
Jinotega · Matagalpa · Nueva Segovia · Madriz

Typical elevation:
1000 – 1600 m

Dominant processing:
Fully washed (with growing honey & natural microlots)

Cup profile:
Brown-sugar & caramel sweetness, red-apple acidity, milk-chocolate body, subtle tropical-fruit lift

Hand-picked on smallholder fincas, cherries are depulped at mountain micro-beneficios, fermented overnight in cool highland air, and sun- or shade-dried on raised beds. The combination of volcanic loam, pronounced day–night temperature swings and biodiverse shade canopies concentrates sugars and aromatics, yielding a cup that balances orchard-fruit vibrancy with comforting chocolate depth - ideal for clean filter brews or velvety, nut-forward espressos.

El Salvador

Cradled by the Apaneca-Ilamatepec volcanic range and cooled by Pacific breezes, El Salvador is the birthplace of the famed Pacamara variety and a source of supremely sweet, silky coffees. Rich basaltic soils and meticulous washed-and-honey processing coax out notes of panela, stone fruit and creamy milk-chocolate that have long charmed specialty roasters worldwide.

Key regions:
Apaneca-Ilamatepec (Santa Ana & Ahuachapán) · Chalatenango · Tecapa-Chinameca (Usulután)

Typical elevation:
900 – 1700 m

Dominant processing:
Fully washed & honey (growing natural microlots)

Cup profile:
Panela sweetness, stone-fruit & orange zest brightness, floral hints, milk-chocolate body

Smallholder producers and traditional estates alike hand-pick Bourbon, Pacas and Pacamara cherries at peak ripeness, fermenting them in cool mountain air before sun-drying on clay patios or raised beds. Pronounced day-night temperature swings lock in sugars, while porous volcanic loam adds mineral nuance. The result is a cup that balances sparkling citrus-fruit acidity with plush caramel depth - equally at home as a clean pour-over or a velvety, dessert-like espresso.

Costa Rica

Nestled between two coasts and laced with live volcanoes, Costa Rica produces coffees famed for their crisp citrus, buttery body and honeyed sweetness. Strict 100 %-Arabica laws, abundant mountain springs and a pioneering micro-mill culture have made the country a laboratory for immaculate washed, black-honey and natural lots that glow with clarity and nuance.

Key regions:
Tarrazú · West Valley (Naranjo & Palmares) · Central Valley (Tres Ríos) · Brunca

Typical elevation:
1200 – 1950 m

Dominant processing:
White-, yellow- & red-honey; fully washed (select naturals)

Cup profile:
Orange-zest & red-apple brightness, wildflower honey sweetness, creamy hazelnut body, cocoa finish

Smallholder families hand-pick ripe Caturra, Catuai and Villa Sarchí cherries on steep, mist-cooled slopes, then depulp them at on-farm micro-beneficios. By adjusting mucilage left on the bean - from “white” (clean) to “black” (full) - producers fine-tune sweetness and mouthfeel before slow patio or raised-bed drying. Combine those meticulous methods with volcanic loam and sharp day-night temperature swings, and you get a cup that couples sparkling fruit acidity with velvety, dessert-like depth - ideal for articulate pour-overs or balanced, caramel-rich espressos.