Caballero Family

The Caballero family is synonymous with the rise of specialty coffee in Honduras, particularly within the Marcala region. The family's deep-rooted history in coffee began with Marysabel Caballero’s great-grandfather, Don Felipe García, who started cultivating coffee in 1907. Her father, Don Fabio Caballero, later became a pioneer of high-quality production in the region, eventually passing down his extensive landholdings to Marysabel and her husband, Moisés Herrera. This transition marked a new era for the family, as the couple took over the management of several farms and modernized their operations to focus on specialty-grade output.

Marysabel Caballero and Moisés Herrera operate a collection of farms spanning hundreds of hectares, including the renowned Finca El Puente. Their division of labor is highly specialized: Marysabel oversees the agricultural management and the workforce, while Moisés, who has a background in engineering, focuses on the technical aspects of the wet and dry mills. This synergy has allowed them to maintain rigorous quality control from the tree to the final export-ready green coffee, a capability bolstered by their modernized dry mill in Xinacla.

The family is perhaps best known for their extraordinary success in the Cup of Excellence (CoE) competition. Together, Marysabel and Moisés have produced an astounding 14 lots that have reached the CoE finals, cementing their reputation as some of the most decorated coffee growers in Honduran history. Their commitment to excellence extends beyond competition, as they consistently produce high-quality lots of Catuai, which remains their primary cultivar, alongside specialty varieties such as Geisha, Java, and Pacamara.

Innovation in processing is a hallmark of the Caballero operation. While they are well-regarded for their clean, classic washed coffees—often characterized by notes of caramel, nuts, and red fruit—they have also embraced experimental processing methods. By leveraging their own milling infrastructure, they can experiment with natural and other processing techniques, allowing them to push the flavor profiles of their harvests to meet the evolving demands of the specialty market.

Beyond production metrics, the Caballero family is deeply committed to social and environmental responsibility. Their work in Marcala and Chinacla involves significant efforts to improve the living conditions of their workers and the environmental health of their farms. This holistic approach to coffee farming has earned them long-standing partnerships with some of the world’s most respected specialty roasters, many of whom have maintained relationships with the family for over two decades.

In 2023, the family reached a significant milestone as Don Fabio Caballero entered a well-deserved retirement, officially passing the stewardship of their long-standing roaster relationships to Marysabel and Moisés. This transition ensures that the family’s legacy of quality, consistency, and innovation continues. For the drinker, a coffee bearing the Caballero name is a testament to a century of agricultural heritage and a modern, scientific approach to coffee production that remains at the forefront of the Honduran specialty sector.