The Story Behind the Cup

By Kevin Echevarria

This month we are highlighting a brew we've all come to know and love -

HONDURAS NATURAL

Back in March of 2025, our team had the honor of visiting Josue Martinez at his farm, Las Delicias, in Honduras. They got to spend the day with him and his family, learn about the farm, and sample beans through expert cupping sessions. The coffee was exceptional, but getting to know Josue and his family had way more of an impact on the team than the beans themselves.

Here's what Fresh Ground's partner, Kevin Echevarria had to say about his experience!

"Josue and I had quite a lot in common, especially our faith and the fact that we are both pastors’ kids. My father, Pedro, went on the trip with us, and we had the chance to visit Josue’s father’s church, which he has pastored for many years. The whole family is involved in ministry, serving in a place so off the beaten path that some of the communities they support can only be reached by horse. The roads are unpaved.

Josue also subsidizes coffee farming by working as a school teacher. The school serves a large rural region where schools do not exist, and kids travel from extremely far away to the main town just to get an education.

The coffee was excellent, but getting to know Josue and his family, and seeing that they are truly beacons of hope and pillars in their community, helped us understand this coffee is bigger than a product. It is a direct investment in people, stability, and long term impact in a place where the work is hard, meaningful, and resources are limited.

In many ways, that process has so much in common with what it takes to grow and cultivate coffee itself. We can take a lot for granted on this side of it, until you see the land firsthand, the conditions, and the people doing the work day after day. Standing there, outside of the comfort of the roastery, you realize every cup has a real origin and a real cost.

For me, it was not just a coffee trip. It was a perspective shift, a reminder to slow down, to honor the hands behind the harvest, and to treat what we serve with the respect it deserves. Every sip is connected to someone’s story, and we are grateful to be a part of his. We ended up contracting all the coffee he harvested, which meant he did not have to wait and sell it off to various buyers."

Honduras Natural Tasting Notes

Origin: Honduras
Variety: Ihcafe90
Process: Natural
Elevation: 1700-1800 masl

Tasting Notes: Red Wine, Strawberry Jam, Raisin

Experience the harvest for yourself and support Josue and his family! We offer two of his coffees - Honduras Natural and Honduras Washed.

RED WINE + FRUITY

SWEET + NUTTY