Honduran Coffee Stories: Reina Mercedes Claros

Reina Mercedes Claros works day and night at her family’s Honduran coffee farm in San Juan, Intibucá. While the labor can be quite challenging, Claros said she enjoys working alongside her daughters and colleagues.

“For me, it is a hobby,” she said. “I am always waiting for the days and months that we harvest and collect. I personally prepare [the coffee] with my daughters and two more more employees that help us. It is awesome, it is a passion.”

A portion of the proceeds from Pure Origin’s Honduran coffee goes towards supporting farmers like Claros throughout Honduras, as they grown, pulp, and dry the coffee beans from their farms.

A Day in the Life

A typical day for Claros begins at 5:30 a.m., when she tends to the livestock and milks her cows. She makes breakfast for the laborers who wake up early to go to the mountain and pick the coffee beans. Afterwards, she begins on lunch for when they return. In the afternoon, she travels up the mountain to receive the coffee, which she then personally prepares alongside her daughters. She can return home as late as 9 or 10 at night, depending on the season and on the amount of coffee that has been collected.

The days can be quite long, but Claros says she is proud to be able to provide for her family. Together with her colleagues, she is quickly making a name for herself in the competitive coffee market.

The Mutual Benefits of Sustainability

Claros stressed the mutual benefit of sustainable impact coffee, both for the buyer and for the grower.

“It makes me feel happy because this is what I love to do,” she said. “To prepare the coffee, to bring it down from the mountain, to bring it for the drying process, to be able to give the producers and buyers quality.

“I like to be loyal with my buyers, to have loyalty, transparency, and fidelity. That way, I feel great, and my buyers do, too, and we can work together for a long period of time.”

You can support Claros and farmers like her by purchasing the Pure Origin Honduran coffee. A portion of every sale goes towards the philanthropic efforts in Honduras.

Thank you for empowering growers at origin! With every story read, cup poured, and coffee sipped – you’re connecting with the world. 
Follow for #PureStories: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube