Alita – Fincas Mierisch
- First time cooperation: 2025
- Cooperation model: Direct Trade
Overview
The farm’s name, Alita (The Little Wing), was inspired by a song of American musician – Jimi Hendrix. The name not only evokes the freedom and creative spirit but also reflects the Mierisch family’s aspiration to soar high and far in their journey to preserve and develop specialty coffee.
Alita farm is owned by Fincas Mierisch – one of the most renowned coffee-growing families in Nicaragua and Honduras, with a generational history deeply connected to the coffee tree. Located in the Rio Bonito region of Siguatepeque, Honduras, and managed by Mr. William Ramos, Alita is the smallest of the three farms in the Comayagua cluster (which includes Cerro Azul, Santa Lucia, and Alita).
Geography and Climate
Situated at an altitude of 1,450-1,550 meters above sea level, Alita is blessed with an ideal environment for Arabica coffee plants. This high elevation forces the coffee plants to grow more slowly, allowing the beans to accumulate more sugars and flavor compounds. Simultaneously, this environment naturally restricts the spread of pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical use and contributing to long-term sustainability.
The climate at Alita is very balanced. The average daytime temperature is around 21°C, dropping to 15°C at night. This significant day-to-night temperature difference allows the coffee beans a “resting” period, which helps form a complex flavor structure, creating delicate yet distinct flavor notes.
Notably, the climatic conditions allow the harvest season at Alita to run from February to June, which is much longer than the traditional harvest window (December to March). This extended season not only provides flexibility in managing labor and yield but also allows the harvesting process to be conducted more thoroughly, reducing time pressure and ensuring the best possible selection of beans.
The extended growing season
The prolonged season at Alita is a major advantage because it means the coffee is harvested under optimal conditions. Farmers have more time to observe the ripeness of each cherry and pick it at the perfect moment, instead of having to rush a simultaneous collection. This enhances the overall consistency of the coffee beans, a key factor for the specialty coffee segment.
Additionally, the extended harvest cycle gives the farm more control over its processing and fermentation planning. Instead of having to handle a massive volume in a short time, Alita can distribute the workload effectively, thereby managing the process more scientifically and precisely.
Philosophy of sustainable farming and management
At Alita, coffee production goes beyond the goal of creating excellent coffee; it is deeply tied to the responsibility of protecting the ecosystem. Out of its 15 hectares of area, 7 hectares of rainforest are preserved intact as an inseparable part of the farm. This conservation effort helps maintain biodiversity, stabilize the microclimate, and protect water and soil resources, all essential elements for long-term sustainable coffee farming.
Under the management of William Ramos, Alita operates with a philosophy of balance: strict on production standards yet open to innovation. This is also the overarching spirit of the Fincas Mierisch system, always prioritizing quality while being unafraid to experiment with new varieties and processing methods to create unique and exciting coffee profiles.
Completing the "Altitude Triangle"
Although Alita is the smallest farm in the Comayagua cluster, it plays a vital role in the strategy of “completing the altitude triangle” alongside Cerro Azul and Santa Lucia. These three farms are located at different positions on the high plateau, forming an altitude-based cultivation system that is complementary and mutually supportive.
This model allows the Mierisch family to maximize climatic advantages: the harvest season is extended, leading to better allocation of labor and yield management, pests are naturally limited by the cool environment; and the fermentation and processing of the coffee beans occur more slowly and stably, resulting in richer and more delicate flavors.
It can be said that with the inclusion of Alita, this “altitude triangle” becomes a sustainable, integrated unit, unlocking new potential for specialty coffee production in Honduras.
Why XLIII Coffee choose Alita
For XLIII Coffee, every partnership is not just about selecting a quality coffee source, but about choosing a partner who shares our values and vision. We see this clearly at Alita: a farm small in scale but with a grand ambition, where meticulousness in every detail of cultivation is harmoniously combined with a spirit of innovation and responsibility toward nature.
Alita belongs to the Fincas Mierisch system – a family with generations of dedication to specialty coffee which gives us assurance of their reputation, experience, and transparent quality. But what truly convinced XLIII Coffee is Alita’s choice of a sustainable path: half of its area is preserved as primary rainforest, and the cultivation season is extended to prioritize quality over chasing volume. This is a testament to the “coffee for the future” philosophy, which aligns perfectly with XLIII Coffee’s long-term development direction.
We also see Alita’s potential for continuous innovation, from experimenting with new varieties and improving processing methods to crafting unique flavor profiles with notes of grape, cherry, and dark honey. We believe that partnering with Alita is not merely bringing a batch of coffee to Vietnam; it is sharing a common aspiration: to build a specialty coffee industry linked to the values of sustainability, transparency, and inspiration.
