FUGLEN COFFEE HOTILIO HERNANDEZ / HONDURAS

The coffee has an impressively bright acidity, reminiscent of tropical fruits and orange. Although it’s made using the washed method, subtle differences in the fermentation process impart fruity flavors and just the right amount of body. It has fresh fruit flavors reminiscent of Japanese pear and watermelon, with a cane- and sucrose-like sweetness towards the end.

This characteristic flavor is nurtured by the environment of the Santiago de Pulingula region, located in the Marcala region of southern Honduras. The region has won consecutive awards at the COE (Cup of Excellence) in recent years and has attracted much attention as a high-quality coffee producing area. Coffee is grown in the area, which is about two hours’ drive from Marcala, at an altitude of 1,500m to 1,700m.

Hotilio Hernández, owner of Bagna delos Farm, took over the four farms from his father in 2011. His father's farm won 11th place in the COE in 2009, and since then, Mr. Otilio has continued to focus on quality control in specialty coffee production. Today Barnard Ross is located at the highest elevation of his farm.

Harvest from January to March, flowering in April. Coffee grown in the region, which takes advantage of the fertile soil and receives winds from the Montecillo Mountains to the north, is said to have a refreshing finish with a floral aftertaste.