Espresso Workshop Honduras Ricardo Cortez

Ricardo is a second-generation coffee grower with a lifelong love for coffee. From an early age, he was by his father's side, helping out on the farm and learning the ropes. Today, he runs Gualion Farm, a 10-hectare property located at 1,800 meters above sea level. He’s dedicated 7 of those hectares to coffee, focusing mainly on Parainema and Gesha varieties.

The farm has a small core team, with extra hands brought in during harvest season. Ricardo is closely involved in managing the fertilization schedule and takes full advantage of the area’s steady, balanced climate. The rainy season can make things a bit tricky in terms of access, but his efficient harvesting and processing methods help keep things on track.

He’s also a big believer in shade trees—not just for the health of the coffee plants, but for the overall well-being of the soil. While natural processing is his go-to and consistently delivers great cup profiles, Ricardo’s curiosity has led him to try out honey and semi-washed methods as well, both of which have shown exciting potential.