Alita Red Catuai 672D by Fincas Mierisch – “Small Wings” Carrying Great Values

For the XLIII Coffee community, Fincas Mierisch is no stranger. They are a family dynasty with a history dating back to the late 1800s, possessing 12 renowned farms scattered across Honduras’s three key regions: Matagalpa, Jinotega, and Comayagua. We have shared many masterpieces from their larger estates, but this reunion brings a different nuance: more intimate, quieter, and more profound.

We arrive at Alita, a farm located in Rio Bonito, Siguatepeque. In the Mierisch family’s massive portfolio, Alita is the “youngest sibling” – the smallest farm, covering a mere 15 hectares. But do not let that modest number deceive you. For Fincas Mierisch, Alita holds a position that is “strategically vital.”

Why would a major coffee group maintain such a micro-farm?

The answer lies in Micro-Climate Control. On farms spanning hundreds of hectares, achieving absolute consistency is a challenge due to variations in altitude and soil. However, at Alita, with its 15-hectare scale, the Mierisch family can tend to every tree as if it were in a “lab-garden.”

The name “Alita” – Spanish for “Small Wings” – is not random. It represents the family’s management philosophy: The aspiration to soar begins with meticulous care for the smallest things. Alita is where they stop chasing industrial output to pour their heart into creating a model of balance between cultivation and conservation.

Thus, XLIII Coffee’s collaboration with Alita is more than a transaction; it is a consensus on the philosophy that “Small is Beautiful.” We chose Alita because, at this scale, the margin for error in cultivation is nearly zero, and every bean is monitored under the strictest protocols.

To understand why Alita is called “The Protecting Wings,” one must look at the farm’s structure. Out of a total of 15 hectares, the Mierisch family made a decision rarely seen in commercial farming: They dedicated 7 hectares – nearly 50% of the land – to strictly protected rainforest.

Instead of clearing the forest to expand coffee planting for maximum profit, they chose to step back. These 7 hectares of primary forest act as a massive “biological shield.” It embraces the coffee garden, retaining groundwater, maintaining humidity, and creating a buffer zone that protects the crops from harsh external weather changes.

Thanks to the embrace of these “old forest wings,” Alita possesses an incredibly stable microclimate. At an altitude of 1,450 – 1,550 meters, the temperature fluctuates within a very narrow, ideal range: from 15°C to 21°C. This is the “dream” diurnal range for Arabica. It is cool enough to inhibit cellular respiration at night (preventing the bean from consuming its own sugars) but warm enough during the day for optimal photosynthesis.

This gentle difference between day and night temperatures, combined with a consistently cool baseline, creates a slow and relaxed biological rhythm for the coffee trees. The cherries at Alita are not rushed to ripen by harsh sun; they “rest easy” in the cool air, slowly accumulating sugars and developing a refined, complex flavor structure. This is nature’s reward for absolute human respect.

As the market races toward exotic Geisha hybrids, F1 varieties, or bold experimental fermentations, Fincas Mierisch’s steadfast dedication to the classic Red Catuai at Alita is a manifesto on the value of “inherent elegance.” They do not seek to shock the palate but strive for perfection in simplicity.

Why Catuai? While the world chases “funky” flavors, the Red Catuai 672D at Alita represents the “Comfort Cup” school of thought. The 672D strain is a dwarf Catuai variety known for excellent wind resistance and a tendency to focus nutrients into the fruit rather than the foliage.

When combined with the Washed process, it does not try to deceive the taste buds with fermentation aromatics. Instead, it showcases its internal structure and sweetness – revealing the purity and complex flavors forged by the cool climate of Rio Bonito.

Drinking Alita Red Catuai 672D feels like coming home after a long day – a sensation of absolute Comfort:

• The Opening: As soon as it touches your lips, you encounter the warm, buttery aroma of Cookies. It evokes memories of freshly baked biscuits, crisp and fragrant with butter, bringing a sense of familiarity and peace.

• The Development: The sweetness does not stop there; it deepens into Orange Molasses. This is a sophisticated combination of the rich, viscous sweetness of cane molasses and a fleeting hint of orange oil, creating a gentle “high note” of brightness that keeps the cup from becoming heavy.

• The Finish: Finally, everything settles into a note of Milk Chocolate – sweet, smooth, and lingering.

It can be said that Alita Red Catuai 672D is the representative of balance, where the nature of Alita has “accumulated sugar” slowly to create the profoundest sweetness. This is a coffee you can drink every day without ever growing tired of it—a value more sustainable than any fleeting trend.

Alita is not just about flavor; it is a model of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for the Mierisch family. Farm statistics reveal their strong commitment to the local community:

• Women Empowerment: According to Fincas Mierisch’s HR reports, 70% of the workforce at Alita are women. In the Honduran agricultural sector, which is traditionally male-dominated, this figure represents a significant effort to create independent livelihoods and economic empowerment for rural women. This shift is strategic, as agricultural studies show that women often demonstrate higher meticulousness and patience in selective picking – a vital factor for Specialty Coffee.
• Social Welfare: To support their staff, especially female workers during the harvest season, Fincas Mierisch maintains specific policies:
• Free Childcare: Providing free daycare services right at the farm. This is an investment in focus. When mothers do not have to worry about their children, they can dedicate their full attention to selecting the ripest cherries.
• Free Meals: Providing nutritious, free meals for workers. This ensures that the people creating Alita coffee are treated with the utmost respect and care.

On our end, XLIII Coffee commits to absolute transparency in the supply chain. The Alita Red Catuai 672D lot was purchased via Direct Trade. The published FOB (Free On Board) price is $8.81/kg. For reference, this price is significantly higher than the C-market price and standard Fair Trade rates, accurately reflecting the value of the forest conservation farming process and the social welfare benefits Fincas Mierisch applies. This is the cost of purchasing personnel stability and perfect harvesting quality. We are paying for an ecosystem where happy people produce exceptional coffee.

Conclusion

Alita Red Catuai 672D is proof that the value of a farm lies not in its acreage, but in the depth of its kindness.

With a total of just 15 hectares – 7 of which are dedicated to protected forest – Alita is the “Small Wings” that shelter both a pristine ecosystem and a community of indigenous workers. Every cup you enjoy carries not only the sweetness of Cookies or Orange Molasses but also direct support for one of the most sustainable and humane agricultural models in Honduras.

XLIII Coffee – Transparency to Create True Value.

1. Is it true that Alita is Fincas Mierisch’s smallest farm?

Yes. According to the Mierisch family records, among their farms in Honduras (such as Santa Lucia, Cerro Azul…), Alita has the modest area of 15 hectares. However, it is considered “strategically vital” due to the unique terroir of the Rio Bonito region.

2. Why is the flavor described as “Cookies”?

This note describes the buttery aroma and the rich, crisp sweetness reminiscent of baked goods. It is a characteristic of Red Catuai that has been harvested at peak ripeness and processed with a clean Washed method.

3. What does the price of $8.81/kg signify?

This is the Direct Trade value that XLIII Coffee pays to Fincas Mierisch. The $8.81/kg is a Premium Price, covering the cost of selected bean quality, the conservation of 7 hectares of forest, and the maintenance of the nursery and meals for the 70% female workforce at Alita.

4. What is different about the Red Catuai 672D variety?

“672D” is the specific strain code of the Red Catuai variety that Fincas Mierisch has selected and developed separately. They found this strain best adapted to the humidity and temperature of the Rio Bonito microclimate, offering stable yields and higher sugar content than generic Catuai varieties.

5. Why is the strain code “672D” significant?

In professional agriculture, producers manage varieties by specific genetic lots or strains. “672D” is Fincas Mierisch’s internal identifier for a specific dwarf Red Catuai lineage at Alita, optimized for disease resistance and flavor accumulation under their specific shade-grown conditions.