Honduras El Zanate Typica

Typica was once among the most widely cultivated coffee varieties in the world. Its lineage traces back to Ethiopia and Yemen before being carried by Dutch colonizers through India and into Southeast Asia, most notably Java. From there, Typica moved into European botanical gardens and, by way of French colonial expansion, was planted in Martinique in the early 1700s. That single introduction seeded much of the Americas’ coffee landscape, from Brazil to Mexico and everywhere in between.

Despite its potential for elegance in the cup, Typica eventually gave way to varieties with higher yields and greater resistance to disease. Over time, it was replaced not only by Bourbon and its descendants (ex. Caturra, Catuai) but also by modern hybrids like IH90 and Parainema in Honduras. Today, Typica is increasingly rare, though notable pockets remain in places like Oaxaca and Cusco.

The truth is, not all Typica is inspiring. Too often it lacks the intensity and character of other varieties, even newer hybrids. That’s what makes this coffee from El Zanate so compelling: it’s the most vivid and articulate Typica we’ve tasted in years. A coffee that speaks to variety, place, and moment, exposing singularly beautiful flavors we rarely encounter in Typica anymore. 

This selection underwent a classic wet-fermentation process, with coffee cherries being floated prior to depulping to remove under-ripe seeds. The coffee was then fermented for 36 hours with water before being washed and dried on raised beds. The result is a transparent and variety-driven experience in the cup. 

Dina Cristina Molina is a first-generation coffee farmer cultivating a small plot called El Zanate, named after the great-tailed blackbird, a bird woven into Central American folklore. Her partner, Lester Francisco Márquez, entrusted part of his land to Dina, giving her the opportunity to steward a farm of her own. Perched at some of the highest and coldest altitudes in the region, Dina focuses on Typica and Gesha, a combination that mirrors the dual identity of Honduran coffee: rooted in tradition, yet pushing into new frontiers of quality.

Our connection to Dina came through Rony Gámez, founder of Café Raga. For decades, Rony has been one of the leading voices in Honduran specialty coffee; helping organize the Cup of Excellence, guiding countless smallholder farmers in best practices, and dedicating his career to elevating the country’s coffees on the world stage. Café Raga reflects that mission: building transparent pathways for farmers like Dina to showcase their coffees, ensuring that quality is recognized, and that farmers can thrive from their work.

By linking emerging farmers with buyers, competitions, and training, Rony has created opportunities for Honduran coffee to be celebrated globally. Dina’s farm is one such story. El Zanate is an example of how vision, mentorship, and persistence can help a new generation of farmers build a sustainable future in coffee while protecting the land they cultivate. 

Wonderstate Coffee is honored to be Café Raga’s first direct-relationship partner in the United States. 2025 marks the start of our shared exploration into Honduras’ often-overlooked specialty regions, where Rony’s long-standing commitment to farmers has fostered a resilient, farmer-centered culture of coffee cultivation. 

Altitude: 1800 meters

Varietals: Typica

Process:
36 hour wet-fermentation, dried for raised beds

Harvest: February - March 2025

Region: Agua Fria, San Sebastian, Lempira Department

Finding a Typica with this level of intensity and clarity is exceptionally rare, and the experience it delivers cannot be overstated. From Dina Cristina Molina’s El Zanate farm, this coffee offers a variety-driven profile that speaks as much to her dedication as it does to the inherent elegance of Typica itself. The cup brims with yellow and green fruits and a vivid herbaceous character, its sparkling Meyer lemon acidity layered with the brisk edge of sencha and the striking aromatics of citronella. A long, hard-candy caramel finish ties it all together, leaving an impression of both precision and transparent-vibrancy.