Honduras Don Abel Botijas Pacamara Washed
The farm Las Botijas is named so after the town legend about a hidden treasure
buried underground. The “botijas” is a potbellied earthenware jug with two openings
used to hide money underground away from humidity, and they were later dug up
and used as musical instruments in the 19th century. The coffee farm Las Botijas
was purchased by Abel Giron in 2011, and he chose to plant the pacamara variety
simply because he liked the big cherries this tree produced. After spending years
growing vegetables, Abel now grows coffee and does some transport work to
sustain the family. His biggest goal is to be able to send his eldest son to a better
university to finish his biology studies.
Project Origin began working with Abel from 2016 - the year he placed 1st in
the Project Origin Honduras Late Harvest Auction. This award was an incredible
achievement. Only two years prior, Abel began pulping and processing his own
beans rather than selling them as harvested cherries to neighbours, and only one
year prior, in 2015, his beans were registering a final measure of 40% moisture
content, instead of the standard 10-12%. It was our local contact, Rony Gamez, who
chose to help Abel, and decided to dry the coffee in Marcala instead of on the farm.
The result was a 90 point coffee, and Abel went on to win back to back auctions with
a 92 point coffee taking the win in 2017.
READ DESCRIPTION
Reminder! This coffee is raw; you must roast it before brewing
Arrival Date: June 2026. Harvest season: 2025, packed in GrainPro
Acidity & Brightness: Gently bright and fairly sweet
Balance & Finish: Well balanced with a quick, clean finish
Body & Texture: Vibrant, Clean, Sweet
Flavors: White Nectarine, Juicy, Pear, Toffee, Red Apple and Milk Chocolate.
Grade: SHG-EP, grown at 1,600 – 1,800 MASL
Certifications:Direct trade, Organic
Processing: Washed
Grower: Don Abel Girón
Region: Comayagua, Honduras
Varietals: Pacamara
Recommended Roast Range: Light
Roasting Las Botijas—especially from Don Abel’s Las Botijas farm—is a bit of an art form. These beans are large, low-density, and packed with complex sugars, which means they behave differently than typical Arabica varieties.
Lighter roasts accent bright and vibrant acidity in the form of crisp apple and lemon zest along with more pronounced floral tones. Darker roasts will lose a bit of brightness in favor of body as well as bringing out more rounded sweetness and accent caramel and chocolate tones.
Nestled in the highlands of Villa San Antonio, Comayagua, Honduras, Finca Las Botijas is a small but mighty coffee farm owned by José Abel Girón Durón, known affectionately as Don Abel. His commitment to quality and sustainability has earned the farm international recognition.
Recognition & Awards
- Cup of Excellence Finalist (2018) - Best of Honduras Late Harvest Champion (2016 & 2017) - Good Food Award Winner (2021)
Sustainability Practices
- Contour planting and hedgerow establishment to preserve soil - Integrated pest management to combat rust and maintain healthy crops - Shade-grown coffee under native trees like guama and liquidambar.
