Honduras - Melina Medina - Washed Microlot

We taste: Berries, Floral, Citrus, Rich

Sourced through our relationship with the Honduran Coffee Alliance.

Merlin Medina began her life in coffee as a young girl. Though her family did not own a
finca, her mother took her to the farms where she worked. Later, when Merlin married, her
husband Hubert gave her a section of his farm. For Merlin, it was exciting to finally have her own finca, even if it required replanting and renovation. She often relied on loans to keep production going during periods of low coffee prices.

In 2018, Merlin trained as a “Five-Star” Cupper with IHCAFE, and that same year her
coffee placed 34th in the Cup of Excellence. She is a member of the CAFESA
cooperative in Marcala and, with Hubert, owns four small farms totaling 10.5 hectares.
Together they manage a cupping laboratory, offering services to other producers in the
region. 

Merlin and Hubert are the primary cupping partners for Honduran Coffee Alliance (HCA)and are both key collaborators and close friends of our team. For Merlin, coffee is a
family crop. She involves her two children, a boy and a girl, in production and cupping
whenever they are not in school, teaching them to value quality and community.
Update 2024 – Merlin renovated parts of her farm with declining yields and continued facing labor shortages. She also attended the SCA Expo in April , where she met roasters and returned motivated to keep improving her farm and lab.

Update 2025 – This year, Merlin became one of the main allies of HCA, overseeing an
all-women team that hand-selected export-quality coffees. On the farm, she continues
investing in renovation, shade management, and processing improvements. At the lab,
she and Hubert are expanding services to help more producers showcase their coffees.
Merlin’s dream remains to secure a long-term committed buyer who values her dedication.

With her passion, discipline, and leadership, she shows that coffee is not only a family
legacy but also a community effort that creates opportunities for others.