When speaking about the production and roasting of specialty coffee, we typically refer to producing countries growing and exporting coffee to other countries.
However, there is a growing demand for coffee consumption in producing countries, as more consumers look to enjoy the products that are grown locally and from neighbouring countries. We spoke to the team from coffee roaster Cafe Maya to learn more about the roasted coffee market in Honduras.
CAFE MAYA HAS BEEN ROASTING AND SELLING HONDURAS COFFEE FOR OVER 60 YEARS. HOW HAS COFFEE DRINKING CULTURE CHANGED DURING THIS TIME?
Café Maya has over 63 years of coffee roasting experience, and our family has been roasting coffee for more than 88 years. We have grown as a result of our business foundations and honest hard work, using the principles and values taught to us by our ancestors every single day, while keeping wider social responsibility in mind.
While the torrefacto process has historically been popular in Honduras, we have seen a shift in recent years as millennials prefer a more “gourmet” style of coffee consumption.
HOW DOES HONDURAS DIFFER FROM OTHER COFFEE PRODUCING COUNTRIES? WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?
Honduras is the fifth-largest coffee producer by volume in the world. We are proud to say we have excellent coffee farmers, and that we as a country have great taste when it comes to coffee.
At Café Maya, we are passionate about incorporating Mayan culture into everything we do. Mayan culture is for some the second most well-known thing about Honduras – after our amazing coffee!
HOW DOES CAFE MAYA SUPPORT HONDURAN COFFEE PRODUCERS?
We are passionate about strengthening the coffee value chain, and as such we indirectly support producers to export and sell their coffee.
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT CAN BE DONE TO FURTHER ELEVATE HONDURAS’ POSITION AS A LEADER IN GLOBAL COFFEE QUALITY AND PRODUCTION?
For starters, the Producer & Roaster Forum events helps to drive awareness. It teaches more people about Honduras and the country’s coffee drinking culture.
We hope to see both coffee consumption and production increase across the Honduran value chain, from producers to exporters and roasters. We as a country want to sell more than a cup of coffee; we want to get the name and image of Honduras out there on an international stage.
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN CREATING A GREAT CUP OF COFFEE?
Technology is very important. It drives the supply chain in its entirety, from the farm to the roastery all the way through to the brewer preparing their cup.
Innovation is key to the growth of the coffee sector, both in Honduras and further afield. We must keep looking for further ways to improve the technology we use and make everything more efficient.
Credit: Cafe Maya