We sat down with Carlos Sierra, a coffee trader at Molinos de Honduras (Volcafe Honduras), a PRF 2021 Bronze Sponsor. 

Volcafe Honduras is a green coffee exporter. Their work in Honduras includes providing support to coffee farmers through their team of technical assistants and agronomists. They help producers improve quality control management alongside driving good business and farm practices.

WHAT DOES THE TERM “TRACEABILITY” MEAN FOR YOUR COMPANY? 

Traceability has become a real focus for us and our clients, because it allows you to know the real origin of the coffee that you are exporting and consuming.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EXPORTING COFFEES FROM HONDURAS?

One of the advantages of exporting coffee from Honduras is the direct relationship we have with producers through which we buy and process their coffees. This allows [us] to control the whole quality process so that the producers don’t lose their coffee’s quality when exporting it.

One of the challenges in Honduras is transporting the coffee to one of the mills, as many producers must travel long distances to move their coffees. We’re working on shortening the distance between the producer and the mill through Honduran coffee agencies and storage facilities.

HOW CAN ROASTERS BECOME MORE INVOLVED WITH ORIGIN (ASIDE FROM VISITING PRODUCERS)? 

Understanding the challenges that coffee producers face in the region they’ll visit. This helps them build more valuable projects that aim to create an impact.

WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN AIMS AND OBJECTIVES FOR PRF 2021?

[We want to] raise awareness of the company and forge strong relationships with new clients. [We look forward to] the opportunity to establish direct relationships so that our clients can work hand-in-hand with producers.

ARE THERE ANY COFFEES IN PARTICULAR AT PRF 2021 THAT YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT?

We’re really excited to try coffees from all of our producers who have managed to maintain and increase the quality year after year with a lot of effort and dedication. 

Furthermore, we’re working on perfecting honey and natural processed coffees. We want to innovate constantly, and our goal is to have these coffees available from some of our producers in the near future. This will demonstrate how producers are growing and developing new methods that will benefit them greatly.

Photo credits: Molinos de Honduras (Volcafe Honduras)