7 - La Leona - Honduras 2025 (Exotic Varieties)

As a third-generation coffee producer, Oscar Tinoco grew up surrounded by coffee. However, it wasn't until 2004 that he made a down payment to his father for the farm "Pino de Oro." Located deep in the mountains, this farm had no access to roads, electricity, or a water supply by drainage. Oscar took it upon himself to revitalize the farm, a task he successfully achieved by 2008. It was with this farm that he won COE in 2011, after his second attempt in the competition. This win helped him complete the payment for the land and enabled him to construct roads connecting the farm to the nearby town.

Four years ago, Oscar began planting the geisha variety on his farm, which led to his fourth-place finish in COE this year. Motivated by his Christian beliefs, Oscar continued to encourage his neighbors to participate and strive for the same level of coffee quality that characterizes his farm. He even opened an eco-friendly wet processing facility for the community to use.

In the future, Oscar hopes to open his farm to tours for international buyers, allowing them to witness the richness of his land and how it translates into his coffee, ultimately ending up in their cup.