Finca El Puente Batian is a Honduran coffee from Marysabel Caballero and Moisés Herrera, two producers who are among the most respected names in the country. At Finca El Puente, they have long been working not only on the quality of their processing but also on the social and environmental conditions surrounding their farms.
The Batian variety itself is particularly interesting. It is a Kenyan hybrid bred in Ruiru as an alternative to the traditional SL28 and SL34 cultivars, partly due to its higher tolerance to coffee rust and coffee berry disease. However, it does not grow here in Kenya, but rather in the Chinacla region of La Paz, Honduras, which makes it a very interesting subject for anyone who likes to observe how a variety’s genetics behave outside their original context.
This lot comes from a small area called La Laguna, where the trees were planted into an existing forest environment near a small lagoon close to a wet mill. Marysabel and Moises were inspired by Tim Wendelboe’s organic farming project at Finca el Suelo in Colombia and have used only compost here since planting, without fungicides or NPK fertilizers.
In the cup, expect a sweet and smooth profile with red fruit, plums, and a distinct floral note reminiscent of violets. This is not a Kenyan Batian in the classic “Kenyan” style—rather, it is a clean, elegant Honduran interpretation of this variety, with subtle fruitiness, floral notes, and a very pleasant drinkability.