Benjamin Paz (La Salsa)

Description

We first met Benjamin Paz in 2014, during a visit to the magical coffee-growing region of El Cedral. It was an eye-opening trip and the beginning of our deep fondness for Honduran coffee, along with a lasting appreciation for baleadas.

Benjamin’s family has grown coffee since the 1950s, but it was through the Cup of Excellence that they became closely connected to the specialty coffee world. Benjamin has since become one of its most influential figures in Honduras, winning the competition himself in 2022 and 2024.

His role extends well beyond his own farm. Benjamin works closely with producers—including Pedro Moreno and María Olimpia—to improve processing, develop long-term strategies and connect their coffees with committed buyers. These are relationships we return to year after year, and a classic example of why Mecca Coffee is in this business in the first place.

When we first met, Benjamin had purchased land to grow rare varieties including Geisha and SL28. He went on to open a coffee shop and roastery, driven by a desire to understand every part of the coffee chain and bring more value back to his community.

From the 2025 harvest, we secured a very small lot of his Geisha. It’s light, floral and beautifully expressive, it carries delicate notes of jasmine and lemongrass.

Text from Mecca Coffee Company's listing.