A longstanding Swiss Water relationship coffee from the most esteemed producers in the Santa Bárbara region.

Originally started as a small family organization in 2015, Los Laureles now boasts working relationships with some of the most esteemed smallholder producers in the region, counting nine Cup of Excellence winners among them. Swiss Water has been working with Los Laureles coffees for nearly a decade as blend components, and is excited to offer their coffee as a single origin Verdant Reserves offering.  

Under the guidance of Los Laureles’ Arbey Mejia, Los Laureles’ growth in quality has been on a steady climb, with the organization currently focusing closely on producing limited but top-tier lots of Fairtrade Organic coffee each harvest. In the highly fertile Santa Barbara soils, Los Laureles farmers plant a variety of coffees—typically adjacent to other coffee crops as well as complementary shade plants such as bananas and timber trees. Environmental stewardship has, too, been integral: coffee pulp is reincorporated back into farms via measures like vermicompost (worm compost) systems fed with coffee pulp, honey, and other organic waste from the farms and surrounding communities. The majority of Los Laureles’ producers use solar dryers, and water from the wet mill is recirculated with leftover water diverted to vermiculture. Dry milling is completed at Beneficio San Vicente, known internationally as a leader in Honduran specialty coffee production.

The high quality of coffees from this area speaks for itself, but we’re happy to go on and on about the well-balanced and nuanced cup profiles we’ve tasted from Los Laureles. This lot is an elegant voyage through cocoa, dried fruit, and tealike notes that would fit smoothly into any coffee menu.

Coffee Facts:

Producer: Los Laureles
Region: Santa Bárbara
Altitude: 1200–1400 masl
Varieties: Catuaí, Lempira, IHCAFE 90, Paraienema
Harvest Season: November–April
Processing: Washed
Cupping: Black Tea, Cocoa Powder, Dried Apple, Pear