Javier Pineda, Finca Bellavista

I was practically born between the rows of coffee plants…

My parents had bought 0,7 hectares of land and they worked day and night to provide for us. Thanks to the robust prices at the time, they were slowly able to purchase more land. Although I spent a lot of time there when I was a child, and helped out as much as I could, my parents insisted that education was the highest priority. While my siblings and I were studying for an exam, my parents would typically be working long shifts.

Finally, in 1994, I started for myself, with a little less than a hectare, on which I planted pacas variety only. Unfortunately, prices crashed after that and I decided to try my luck in the US. Because I was able to generate a living wage there, my two brothers joined me not much later, and our sister was left behind, looking after the entire family’s land on her own. Fourteen years later, in 2008, I missed my homeland so much, and continued to feel so passionate about coffee, that I returned to my native town of San Marcos in Ocotepeque, and started to work with my sister.

In the meanwhile, Nery Espinoza, who is also a member of CAFESMO, had become my brother in law and we started to coordinate our coffee businesses together. Now, each of us focuses on a different aspect. My son Javier is studying at the Honduran Coffee Institute to become a Q grader, so he and I are responsible for our specialty coffees. Last year, when he was only 18 years old, Javier prepared his first 87 profile from our own Colombia variety, which he sold to Carlos René Guerra, Honduras’s national barista champion (16th of the world in Boston, 2019).

I am certain that Javier has a bright future ahead of him, with lots of opportunities to make people around the world happy with our coffees. Surely, if he is capable of preparing an 87 profile at age 18, he will be able to achieve a 90 score sooner, rather than later! And I am very, very proud to work with my son and grateful to be a part of his – and hopefully your – success.

Farm facts

Our 9,5 hectare finca is located at a beautiful spot in the rolling hills around San Marcos, varying between 1.300 and 1.370 meters. An ideal altitude for coffee in our region.

We grow Colombia, Parainema, Lempira and Catimor.

Shadow is provided by plantains and bananas, as well as a variety of citrus trees, all of which transmit an exquisite zest to the surrounding beans. There are also regional trees like subtes, guamo, paterna, and Cuanigiquil.

Our farm is Certified Fair Trade, and Organic.

This farm is Rain Forest Alliance certified.