Episode 420 on Monday the 28th of November, 2016. Honduras Finca Cerro Azul Red Honey Red Catuai.

Cerro Azul is one of the Mierisch family’s newer coffee projects in Honduras. The name 'Mierisch' might sound familiar; they have brought us Limoncillo, Escondida, San Jose and Mama Mina, to name just some of their amazing farms.

The Mierisch family have been growing coffee for four generations, going on five, in Nicaragua. They have achieved great results with their special way of farming, and more importantly by reaching out to specialty buyers and being at the forefront of coffee development.

This farm is a new experiment for the Mierisch family. To farm here, they're going across the border of their mother country and driving six hours from their home to neighbouring Honduras. I've spoken with Erwin a lot about why the family made this decision, and it came down to his experiences as one of the Head Judges for the Cup of Excellence competitions in Honduras. He had seen amazing potential, but he'd also seen a lack of care and attention to detail during the processing stage. This detail is vital to truly special coffee, and Erwin and his family are some of the best-qualified technicians of processing whom I have ever met. A match made in heaven.

In 2011 they started the project of revitalising Finca Cerro Azul in the region of the national park, Azul Meambar. It's in Siguatepeque, Comayagua, Honduras, and is across El Cielito, Santa Barbara. The farm lies on the other side of Lake Yojoa, and is blessed with micro-climates and conditions which are familiar to the family because those conditions are similar to the ones they experience on their lands in Nicaragua.

But the soil is something else, as is the plant stock they have inherited, and this is the first production they have been happy enough to share with special international friends. We are some of the first to taste the fruits of their hard work and long drives to their new farm.

In the cup expect a heap of cherry, dark chocolate bitterness and a little bit of funky fruit. This coffee also has a delicate floral side, think Turkish Delight.

• Country: Honduras
• Community: Rio Bonito
• Municipality: Siguatepeque
• Department: Comayagua
• Farm name: Finca Cerro Azul
• Farm manager(s): Francisco Escobar and Lidia Zeledon
• Farm owners: Family Mierisch
• Area: 135 hectares
• Elevation: 1,450–1,900 m.a.s.l.
• Diurnal temperature cycle: average high: 26 C, average low: 16 C
• Varietal: Red Catuai
• Shade: Inga and Liquidambar
• Processing method: Red Honey