On the steep mountain slopes of Santa Bárbara, Honduras, there is a small farm that grows high-quality specialty coffee. The farm, called Arianita, is run by Kelvin Pineda – a man with a unique story and a passion for coffee.

Kelvin grew up surrounded by coffee plantations, and as a child he worked with his father who grew both coffee and vegetables. Life took a dramatic turn in 2010, when Kelvin's father died in a tragic car accident. Responsibility for the family fell to 20-year-old Kelvin, who had to find solutions to support his siblings and mother. He chose to focus on vegetable farming, which gave the family a quick income and food on the table.

However, in 2017 he returned to coffee. His father-in-law sold him a small property with an existing coffee plantation. Kelvin produced his first batch of specialty coffee that same year. It was the start of a new era – not only for the farm, but also for his life.

With improved finances and a renewed passion for coffee, Kelvin began to look forward with optimism.

With a hand on the entire value chain

The process that makes Kelvin's coffee unique starts with the cultivation. Kelvin has chosen to focus on three types of beans, with pacas making up 50% of his coffee plants. Many of the plants are older than is typical in coffee farming, but the plants continue to produce exquisite coffee berries year after year, so Kelvin sees no reason to replace the plants anytime soon.

The coffee berries are carefully picked by hand, transported by mule down steep slopes, and processed at the washing station the same day.

After washing, the coffee beans undergo a 16-hour dry fermentation, before being thoroughly rinsed four times with clean water. The beans are then dried for around 15 days. During the drying process, each individual bean is carefully inspected to remove any defects.

Kelvin's dedication to quality, with a hand in the entire value chain, is reflected in every single cup brewed.

Kelvin Pineda's big dream

Producing specialty coffee in Honduras comes with its own challenges. High labor costs and a lack of seasonal workers for the harvest make the process demanding. Yet Kelvin is determined to maintain the quality of his coffee and further develop the farm.

In the short term, Kelvin plans to improve the agronomic methods he uses.

But his biggest dream is to one day visit a coffee shop where his coffee is sold. A simple but strong motivation that symbolizes the value of his work.

From little Arianita to the world

Kelvin still grows vegetables alongside his coffee, but it is coffee that is his greatest passion. This was particularly evident when buyer Morten Sletten and marketing manager Lene Bengte visited Arianita in 2024.

– I don't speak much Spanish, but there were two words I understood that he repeated over and over: trabajar (to work) and motivado (motivated), Morten says of the visit in March, in the middle of the harvest.

Kelvin Pineda's dedication to his craft and his strong connection to family tradition give hope for a bright future for both him and the Arianita farm.

Award-winning coffee

Solberg & Hansen participated in the Best Roaster competition at the Nordic Coffee Fest in Gothenburg in 2024 with our very first batch of coffee from Arianita and Kelvin. This batch gave us a win in the category "Best sourced coffee".

– At the coffee table in Honduras, this year's harvest delivered high quality, so there was no doubt that we would buy more coffee batches from the talented Kelvin Pineda, says Morten proudly.

This year we can offer both a micro-batch and an exclusive batch of coffee from Arianita, both of very high quality.

Kelvin Pineda's story is a reminder that passion, perseverance and quality can lead to success – even in challenging circumstances. His specialty coffee, grown with care and precision, is not just a cup of coffee, but a testament to his motivation and dreams.