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Barista Cup Winners Embark on Journey to Coffee Origins in Honduras

The Barista Cup titleholders from the renowned coffee roasting company, Julius Meinl, recently embarked on an inspiring journey to Honduras. This unique trip provided them with a firsthand experience of the origins behind the coffee they use in their daily practices. In collaboration with Fairtrade Österreich and the Latin American and Caribbean Fair Trade Network (CLAC), the trip took these passionate baristas through critical coffee-growing regions in Honduras that supply Julius Meinl’s double-certified The Originals Bio Fairtrade line.

Among the travelers were Christina Meinl, a member of the fifth generation of the Meinl family, alongside the Barista Cup winners: Raffy Vajio (UAE, overall champion), Vladimir Chzou (Moldova, espresso champion), Luca Riccardi (Italy, cappuccino champion), and Mario Benetseder (Austria, signature drink champion). Their arrival coincided with the peak harvest time in January, where coffee trees were laden with bright red cherries. This immersive experience allowed them to deeply explore the social and environmental challenges faced by the coffee industry during a period of record prices.

In celebration of World Fair Trade Day 2025, Julius Meinl shared crucial insights on Fairtrade coffee. Mario Benetseder remarked, “Picking the product that I process daily in my café, witnessing each step of its processing, and meeting the people behind it all has completely changed my perspective on coffee.”

Connecting Across the Supply Chain

The trip emphasized the connection points across the supply chain, reinforcing the importance of understanding the challenges faced by producers. Hartwig Kirner, Managing Director of Fairtrade Österreich, pointed out, “This trip connects two ends of the supply chain – producers and baristas. It facilitates direct knowledge exchange, deepening understanding of the farmers' challenges and highlighting the significance of the Fairtrade mission for a sustainable coffee future.” Fairtrade ensures farmers receive a stable minimum price along with an additional Fairtrade premium, which is reinvested by cooperatives into community projects, infrastructure, and sustainability initiatives.

Challenges and Bold Solutions

During the journey, the baristas visited the cooperatives COPRACNIL and COCAMOL, which support farmers in enhancing quality, yield, and community welfare. Essential topics discussed included the development of resilient coffee varieties, agroforestry, and income diversification—key strategies to secure coffee farming as a sustainable livelihood for future generations.

The group also toured Instituto Copan Galel in Copán, a school offering a three-year agroforestry bachelor’s degree focused on technical development and innovation, funded through Fairtrade premiums from COPRACNIL. The daughter of COPRACNIL's president attends this school, aiming to combine higher education with her desire to take over the family business.

Investing in Coffee's Future

Julius Meinl's 2023-launched Originals Bio Fairtrade line has established itself as a pivotal product series for business customers, addressing the increasing demand for double-certified coffee—marking their most successful B2B launch yet. This journey underlines the crucial role that strong partnerships between producers, roasters, and consumers play in advancing Fairtrade.

Jimmin Soriano, former president of COCAMOL, remarked on Fairtrade's impact, stating, “Without the Fairtrade and organic certifications, I wouldn’t be producing coffee today. We continuously seek better markets and opportunities for our families, as being a coffee producer is incredibly challenging. But finding buyers like you inspires us to keep going.”

In light of an uncertain future for the coffee industry, investments at the farm level through Fairtrade initiatives are more critical than ever, helping to forge sustainable and equitable paths forward in the coffee sector. This initiative strengthens the bond between baristas and farmers, contributing to a more sustainable and prosperous coffee industry.