Geography:
San Marcos is a very small municipality in the Honduran department of Ocotepeque. Only about 17,000 people live in this small city that is based on the highest peak in Honduras: Sierra del Merendon. The peak itself goes as high as nearly 8000 feet. However, the coffee farming takes place at about 4000 feet (or roughly 1000-2500 meters). The elevation is one of the many contributing factors to Honduras San Marcos coffee having a great flavor.
What Makes This Coffee Unique:
This section of San Marcos borders El Salvador and Guatemala, both great coffee producers in their own rights. Honduras San Marcos coffee comes from a different angle, however. Most Guatemalan and El Salvadorean coffees are made more for mass production. That is not the case with Honduras San Marcos coffee farms. This coffee is 100% shade-grown. Also, not only is the elevation higher than most, but the air is cool during the day and even cold at night.
Despite this, the soil is fantastic and the coffee beans receive lots of attention so that the plants can still grow. This slow process leads to a very lengthy maturation period that is not fit for mass-production. But, this is amazing in terms of stellar bean flavor. Just as with wines that have slow-growing grapes that lead to the best flavors, so is the case with this coffee.
Flavors:
The coffee plants in this region are more diverse than many other places as well. This allows for an interesting mixture of flavor profiles. The coffee plant varietals most common are: Bourbon, Caturra, Typica, Catuai, and Pacas.
Most higher elevation coffees tend to have higher levels of acidity. But, once again, the Honduras San Marcos coffee breaks the mold here too. Although partially roasted off through a medium roast, it still maintains an interesting tangy flavor. Usually, this flavor characteristic can only be maintained through lighter roasts. This coffee also has a hint of spices that is quite unique as well.
This is definitely a full-bodied cup of coffee, and has an aroma that will make it easier to pick out some of the flavor profiles mentioned here. The fantastic aroma stands out and will make your home smell even more delicious than your typical coffee. Be sure that you take a big inhale right before you sip this coffee. When you do, you’ll understand what we are talking about and get an even bigger effect on your tastebuds. For tips on further enhancing the flavor experience, check out our blog on the topic here.
Cookie Pairing:
The Honduras San Marcos coffee at a medium roast goes really well with our salted caramel cookie. The light salt actually neutralizes some flavors, leaving you with a caramel spice hybrid kind of a flavor. Think of almost like a light gingerbread and caramel mix. Match Made Coffee also recommends that you try particular coffee and cookie pairing individually. The tanginess of the coffee can be slightly neutralized by the cookie to boost other flavors. However, for many people, the tanginess is something to be thoroughly enjoyed on its own.
