Country
Honduras
Location
El Cielito, Santa Barbara
Altitude (masl)
1450 m.a.s.l
Varieties
parainema, pacas, bourbon
Roberto’s father hails from Santa Barbara and, at one point, acquired a property in El Cielito, a quaint village in the region. Following in his father’s footsteps, he made the decision to cultivate coffee. Roberto and his siblings pitched in significantly, tending to tasks like preparing the coffee nursery and planting coffee trees.
Throughout the years, the Portillos consistently produced high-quality coffee but had traditionally sold it in the local market, often receiving meager and fluctuating prices. As time passed, Roberto’s father divided the farm and distributed it among his children as an inheritance.
“I’ve continued to work on the farm, just as my father taught me. Now, my son is my invaluable right-hand man, overseeing all farm activities,” Roberto explains. Five years ago, they made a pivotal change by primarily transitioning to the parainema coffee variety, which opened doors to the specialty coffee market.
“Two years ago, we embarked on the journey of preparing our very first microlot of specialty coffee. Thanks to this shift, we’re now enjoying improved prices and a more stable income,” Roberto proudly remarks.