How Coffee Gets From the Farm to Your Cup (In Simple Terms)

Coffee is part of everyday life, yet most people have no idea how much work happens before it reaches their cup. The journey is longer—and more human—than you might think.

Here’s a clear, easy explanation of how coffee gets from the farm to your cup, without technical language or industry buzzwords.

1. It All Starts on the Farm

Coffee begins as a fruit, not a bean.
On farms in Honduras, coffee plants grow cherries that look similar to small red berries.

Farmers carefully:

• Grow coffee at high altitudes
• Harvest cherries by hand when they’re ripe
• Focus on quality, not speed

This is where the flavor starts.

At Raíces, we work directly with farmers like Juan Carlos Vásquez (Los Primos) and Nelson Domínguez (El Trueno), who treat coffee as a craft, not a commodity.

2. The Coffee Is Processed

Once cherries are picked, they must be processed quickly to protect flavor.

Processing removes the fruit and prepares the coffee for drying.
Different methods affect taste:

• Natural process (Los Primos): sweeter, smoother, fruit-forward
• Honey process (El Trueno): balanced, floral, gently sweet

After processing, the coffee is dried and rested until it’s ready for the next step.

3. The Coffee Is Roasted

Roasting is where flavor truly develops.

At Raíces:

• Coffee is roasted at origin in Honduras, close to where it’s grown
• Small batches preserve character and freshness
• Roast levels are chosen to highlight natural flavors, not hide them

This step turns green coffee into the aromatic beans you recognize.

4. From Honduras to Florida

After roasting, coffee is shipped in small batches to Florida.
This allows:

• Faster delivery across the U.S.
• Better freshness control
• Fewer months sitting in warehouses

The journey is shorter, fresher, and more intentional.

5. From Your Bag to Your Cup

Once your coffee arrives:

• You grind the beans
• Add hot water
• Brew in the way that fits your life

That final step is yours—and it’s where the whole journey comes together.

Every cup connects you back to:

• The farmer
• The land
• The story behind the coffee

Why This Journey Matters

Knowing where your coffee comes from changes how it tastes.

It’s not just about flavor—it’s about respect:

• Respect for the people who grew it
• Respect for the time it took
• Respect for the craft

That’s why we say: Every bean tells a story.