CafeExpo 2026 San Pedro Sula: Honduras Coffee Fair with Executive Transport

Honduras has transformed from a commodity coffee producer into a specialty coffee origin of global significance:

Honduras coffee by the numbers:
- Production: 6-7 million 60-kg bags annually
- World ranking: 6th largest producer (after Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, Ethiopia)
- Central America: #1 producer, surpassing Guatemala and Costa Rica
- Export value: $1.5+ billion annually (Honduras's top agricultural export)
- Producers: 120,000+ coffee farming families
- Employment: 1 million+ people in the coffee chain

The specialty revolution:
- Honduras Cup of Excellence scores regularly exceed 90+ points
- Specialty coffee now represents 30%+ of exports
- SHG (Strictly High Grown) designation for high-altitude lots
- Growing recognition in the US, European, and Asian specialty markets

Key coffee varieties grown:
- Lempira: Disease-resistant hybrid developed in Honduras
- Parainema: Another Honduran-bred resistant variety
- Catuai and Caturra: Traditional high-quality Arabica
- Typica and Bourbon: Heirloom varieties in select farms
- Geisha/Gesha: Growing production in western Honduras

CafeExpo is where this entire industry meets the global market.

CafeExpo 2026:
- Location: San Pedro Sula, Honduras (venue TBC — typically Expocentro or hotel convention center)
- Duration: 3 days
- Exhibitors: 200+ coffee producers, exporters, cooperatives, and supply chain companies
- Visitors: 2,000+ trade professionals from 30+ countries
- Organized by: IHCAFE (Instituto Hondureño del Café) and industry associations

Fair components:
- Exhibition floor: Producer booths showcasing regional origins and lots
- Cupping rooms: Professional tasting sessions (150+ samples daily)
- Conference program: Industry keynotes, market analysis, sustainability panels
- Matchmaking: Buyer-seller meetings organized by IHCAFE
- Awards ceremony: Quality competition winners announced

Who organizes CafeExpo:
- IHCAFE: National coffee institute, regulatory body and promotional agency
- ADECAFEH: Association of coffee exporters
- CAFE Honduras: Quality and sustainability program
- International partners: SCA (Specialty Coffee Association), ICO

CafeExpo is Honduras's answer to SCAA Expo, Let's Talk Coffee, and other global coffee industry events.

CafeExpo's cupping program is the heart of the event — where business decisions are made sip by sip:

Cupping sessions:
- Professional cupping rooms: SCA-standard facilities with calibrated equipment
- Daily sessions: 3-4 scheduled cupping rounds per day
- Samples: 150+ lots from all 6 Honduran coffee regions
- Q-Graders: Licensed Q-Graders lead and calibrate sessions
- Scoring: SCA cupping protocol (0-100 point scale)

What buyers taste:
- Regional lots showcasing terroir differences
- Cup of Excellence winning lots
- Micro-lots from single farms
- Women-produced coffee (growing category)
- Organic and fair-trade certified lots
- Experimental processing (honey, natural, anaerobic)

Exhibition floor highlights:
- Producer cooperatives (COCAFCAL, COMSA, COPRANIL)
- Export houses (BECAMO, COHONDUCAFE, Atlantic Coffee)
- Machinery and processing equipment
- Packaging and branding services
- Sustainability certification bodies (Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade, UTZ)

Conference themes:
- Climate change adaptation in Honduran coffee
- Specialty market trends and pricing
- Direct trade and relationship coffee
- Coffee leaf rust (roya) management
- Technology in quality control and traceability

Honduras has 6 officially designated coffee regions, each with distinct cup profiles:

1. Copán (western highlands):
- Altitude: 1,100-1,600 masl
- Profile: Chocolate, caramel, citric acidity, full body
- Notable: Adjacent to Guatemala's Huehuetenango
- Access from SPS: 3 hours west

2. Opalaca (Intibucá, Lempira):
- Altitude: 1,200-1,700 masl
- Profile: Tropical fruit, wine-like, complex acidity
- Notable: Cup of Excellence winners frequently from here
- Access from SPS: 4 hours south

3. Montecillos (La Paz, Comayagua):
- Altitude: 1,200-1,600 masl
- Profile: Bright acidity, citrus, peach, floral notes
- Notable: Well-established export region
- Access from SPS: 3.5 hours southeast

4. Agalta (Olancho):
- Altitude: 1,000-1,400 masl
- Profile: Chocolate, nuts, sweet, balanced
- Notable: Honduras's largest department, growing specialty sector

5. Comayagua (central):
- Altitude: 1,100-1,500 masl
- Profile: Citrus, caramel, clean cup
- Notable: Proximity to Tegucigalpa market

6. El Paraíso (eastern, near Nicaragua):
- Altitude: 1,100-1,500 masl
- Profile: Fruity, sweet, balanced acidity
- Notable: Shares characteristics with Nicaraguan coffees

Who attends CafeExpo:

International buyers:
- US specialty roasters and importers (largest buyer group)
- European green coffee importers (Germany, UK, Scandinavia, Belgium)
- Japanese and Korean specialty buyers
- Canadian and Australian roasters
- Latin American roasters sourcing Honduran origins

Honduran producers:
- Smallholder farmers organized in cooperatives
- Estate owners (fincas) with direct trade programs
- Producer cooperatives seeking new export markets
- Young coffee entrepreneurs and next-generation producers

Industry professionals:
- Q-Graders and cuppers
- Coffee quality consultants
- Sustainability and certification specialists
- Agricultural extension agents
- Coffee technology companies

What buyers come looking for:
- Specialty lots scoring 84+ points
- Direct trade relationships with producers
- Organic and certified coffee sources
- Volume lots for commercial specialty blends
- Unique processing experiments for limited editions

Pre-registration recommended — cupping sessions and matchmaking meetings fill up in advance. Contact IHCAFE or your country's coffee import association for buyer mission opportunities.

CafeExpo venue:
- Typically held at Expocentro or a major hotel convention center in San Pedro Sula
- San Pedro Sula was chosen over Tegucigalpa due to proximity to western coffee regions and SAP Airport's international connections

Getting to the venue:
- From Zona Viva hotels: 10-15 min
- From SAP Airport: 15-25 min
- From city center: 10-15 min

Practical information:
- Registration: On-site with business credentials or pre-registration online
- Language: Spanish primary; English common among exporters and international organizations
- Wi-Fi: Available but bring mobile data backup
- Dress code: Business casual; cupping rooms require no strong fragrances

Cupping room etiquette:
- No perfume, cologne, or scented products (affects cup evaluation)
- Arrive on time — sessions start promptly
- Follow Q-Grader instructions for slurping protocol
- Take notes — sample cards provided

Transportes Ejecutivos provides daily hotel ↔ venue shuttle service throughout CafeExpo, with flexible timing for early cupping sessions and late networking events.

The real value of attending CafeExpo is combining the fair with origin visits:

Copán coffee region (3 hours from SPS):
- Visit producer cooperatives like COCAFCAL
- Tour wet and dry processing mills
- Meet farmers whose lots you cupped at the fair
- Combine with Copán Mayan ruins (see blog80)
- Recommended: 2-day trip (overnight in Copán Ruinas town)

Santa Bárbara region (2 hours from SPS):
- High-altitude specialty producers
- Growing region with excellent quality potential
- Closer to SPS — possible as a long day trip

Marcala / La Paz (4 hours from SPS):
- Honduras's first Denomination of Origin for coffee
- Premium micro-lots and experimental processing
- Multi-day trip recommended

Farm visit logistics:
- Mountain roads require SUV or 4x4 in rainy season (June-November)
- Farm access roads can be unpaved and steep
- Professional driver essential for safety and navigation
- Allow extra time for weather-related delays

Transportes Ejecutivos coffee origin packages:
- CafeExpo + Copán coffee farms (3-4 days)
- CafeExpo + Santa Bárbara origins (2-3 days)
- CafeExpo + multi-region tour (5-7 days)
- Executive SUV recommended for all farm visits

CafeExpo networking continues after the fair closes each day:

San Pedro Sula dining for coffee professionals:
- Espresso Americano: Honduras's best coffee chain — essential for coffee industry visitors
- La Tejana: Traditional Honduran cuisine, perfect for hosting producers
- Restaurante Pamplona: Spanish-Honduran, suitable for formal business dinners
- La Cumbre: Hilltop restaurant with panoramic SPS views

Coffee-focused experiences:
- Cupping at local roasteries: Several SPS roasters host evening cuppings
- Espresso Americano training center: Barista demonstrations and coffee education
- Farm-to-cup dinners: Some cooperatives organize multi-course dinners featuring their coffee in each course

Networking events:
- IHCAFE welcome reception (opening evening)
- Exporter-hosted cocktails at major hotels
- Cooperative producer dinners
- Cup of Excellence auction celebration

Post-fair relaxation:
- Lago de Yojoa (1.5 hours): Lake setting, D&D Brewery craft beer
- Tela beach (1.5 hours): Caribbean coast afternoon

Transportes Ejecutivos evening service:
- Venue → restaurant → hotel circuit
- Driver standby during dinner
- Safe late-night return from networking events
- Multi-stop evening coordination via WhatsApp

Transportes Ejecutivos provides tailored transport for CafeExpo attendees:

CafeExpo delegate services:
- SAP Airport meet & greet transfer
- Daily hotel ↔ CafeExpo venue shuttle
- Evening networking and restaurant transfers
- Coffee farm origin visits (SUV/4x4)
- Multi-day packages covering fair + farm tours

Vehicle recommendations for coffee professionals:
- Executive sedan: Airport transfers and city fair transport
- Executive SUV: Coffee farm visits (4x4 capability for mountain roads)
- Executive van: Buyer delegations and cupping groups (4-8 pax)

Coffee farm tour transport features:
- Drivers experienced with Honduras mountain roads
- Rainy season preparedness (June is wet)
- Cooler storage for coffee samples purchased at farms
- Flexible scheduling for farm visits that run long

Multi-day packages:
- 3-day CafeExpo only: Airport + daily fair transport + evenings
- 5-day CafeExpo + Copán: Fair + 2-day coffee farm and ruins visit
- 7-day full immersion: Fair + multiple region farm tours

All packages include:
- Professional bilingual driver
- GPS-tracked vehicle
- 24/7 operations center support
- Corporate billing in USD