Became Central America's top coffee producer in 2011. Marcala holds the first protected origin denomination for coffee.
Honduras became Central America's top coffee producer in 2011. Wikipedia says coffee growing was in its infancy at the end of the 19th century, with mostly small plantations and almost no exports because of poor transport. In 1894 production was reckoned at 20,000 quintals, of which only 10 per cent was exported through Amapala and Puerto Cortés. Marcala, in La Paz department, is renowned for coffee and boasts the first protected origin denomination for coffee. In Copán department, coffee is one of the main agricultural activities alongside tobacco and livestock.
History
At the end of the 19th century Honduran coffee was in its infancy, with numerous small plantations and almost no exports because of poor transport to the coast. Production in 1894 was reckoned at 20,000 quintals, of which 10 per cent was exported via Amapala and Puerto Cortés, and in 1900 exports were worth 54,510 pesos. In 2011 Honduras became Central America's top coffee producer.
Field notes
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Honduras became Central America's top coffee producer in 2011.
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In 1894 Honduran coffee production was reckoned at 20,000 quintals, and only 10 per cent was exported.
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Marcala boasts the first protected origin denomination for coffee.
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In the 2025 Honduras Cup of Excellence results, at least 21 of the 30 winning lots came from Santa Bárbara department, which is shared by three of the six named coffee regions.
Where it growsCentral American highlands, with coffee grown in departments such as La Paz (Marcala) and Copán.
Regions of Honduras
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Northwestern department where coffee is one of the main crops. The capital, Santa Rosa de Copán, sits at about 1,160 m.
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One of Honduras' six named coffee regions, east of Copan, with farms at about 1,100 to 1,600 m.
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Southwestern Honduran coffee region on the Salvadoran border, home to Marcala and grown at roughly 1,200-1,600 m.
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Central Honduran region, one of six named Honduran coffee regions, with farms at about 1,000 to 1,500 m.
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One of Honduras' six named coffee regions, with a tropical climate and farms at about 1,100 to 1,400 m.
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Southern Honduran region bordering Nicaragua, one of six named coffee regions, with farms at about 1,000 to 1,400 m.
Species
- Coffea arabica100%
Sources · 5 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-11-10. Some details here are less settled than others.
- Coffee production in Honduras · Wikipedia
- Marcala · Wikipedia
- Copán Department · Wikipedia
- Cup of Excellence Honduras 2025 results · Alliance for Coffee Excellence
- Geographic Regions of Coffee in Honduras · Red Honduras