Miriam "Betty" Perez Microlot, Honey Processed | Organic Honduran Apex

Peach * Baklava * Cream

I once heard honey-processed coffees described as the "Kool-Aid version" of unflavored coffee—a description that has never quite escaped my impression of these roasts. Even with Betty's masterfully balanced profile, you get a sense of the rich fruitiness that is the hallmark of honey processing.

We’ve had a long-standing relationship with Miriam “Betty” Perez, a respected leader in the Marcala community and a third-generation coffee farmer. Her advocacy for gender equality and fair trade in the coffee industry aligns closely with our values, and we deeply admire her dedication to both her craft and her community.

This year, we’re thrilled to offer two of Betty’s exceptional coffees: a honey processed and a natural process. Tasting these side by side provides a rare opportunity to explore processing methods and expand your palate, experiencing how they showcase the impact of different processing methods.

Check out Betty's Natural Process coffee here!

Miriam “Betty” Perez is not just a valued partner—she is a trailblazer in the Marcala coffee community. With over 20 years of experience, she continues the legacy of her family’s coffee farming tradition while championing gender equality and fair trade practices.

“When we were kids, our grandfather always involved all of his grandsons in farm chores at his coffee farm. He didn’t like bringing his granddaughters because he used to say girls had no place on coffee farms. In the end, he wound up contradicting his own beliefs by inheriting his daughter, my mother, her farm, and delegating tasks to me. I helped by planting trees, hauling and picking coffee, and assisting my mother, who was a single mother, to earn a living so we could buy school materials and clothing."

Betty’s commitment to organic coffee production and sustainable practices shines through in every harvest. Her vision is to pass on the farm to her four children, instilling in them the values of cultivating coffee in harmony with nature.

We are honored to showcase her work in our lineup, offering two distinct processing methods that invite coffee lovers to taste and appreciate the unique craftsmanship and flavor profiles Betty consistently brings to her coffee.

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Quality is fundamental to Higher Grounds' mission, and our Apex Series exemplifies this commitment best. Holding up our Apex coffees is our opportunity to hold up the farmers as well. While roasters relish the opportunity to showcase their skills by roasting and cupping these unique and exquisite coffees, the true mission of the Apex Series lies in honoring our Farmer Partners. Each bag prominently features the names of our Farmer Partners, highlighting our responsibility and privilege to elevate these artisans. Their expertise, often honed over multiple generations, is crucial to the exceptional coffee we produce together. Every cup is as much their creation as it is ours.