November is here and it's time to put on our wooly hats to work in the Roastery (at least until things warm up in there!).

In warmer climates - we are happy to update you about the work carried out by the Honduran Farming Communities we work closely with.

• This year, they have developed a Leadership Program to promote the empowerment of rural youth with topics such as teamwork, conflict resolution, sustainability, innovation and a strong focus on creative solutions to the agricultural problems of the coffee sector.

• They continue to deliver cash premiums to the individual fincas whose coffees stand out in terms of quality. This initiative aims to recognise the extra effort put into the improvement of the processes or the implementation of new practices or technologies that lead to better results in cup and sustainability. This year's premiums went out to more than 100 producers.

They have asked to pass on the message;

"Super special thanks to all of our customers who have paid appropriate prices for such nice coffees and allow this to happen."

• Celebrating Children's day; This year our team of field technicians prepared a full day agenda with activities that included piñatas, games, meals, candies, music, and much more to celebrate with 630 children of 9 schools located in several of our coffee communities in the department of Lempira.

Finally, after months of searching we have found the perfect decaf coffee to add to the Caribe Coffee Offering. We still have some product development to do and will let you know when it hits the online store. In the meantime we wanted to explain why we have chosen Swiss Water Decaf: 

The process of decaffeinating coffee is a crucial step that allows coffee lovers to enjoy their favorite beverage without the stimulating effects of caffeine. One popular method for decaffeination is the Swiss Water Process, which stands in stark contrast to the chemical decaffeination process. Let's explore the benefits of the Swiss Water Process compared to chemical decaffeination.

First and foremost, the Swiss Water Process is an entirely chemical-free method. It relies on the natural solubility of coffee compounds in water to remove caffeine. In contrast, chemical decaffeination often involves the use of chemicals like methylene chloride or ethyl acetate, which can leave trace residues on the beans. Swiss Water Process coffee is prized for its purity and absence of potentially harmful chemicals, making it a safer choice for health-conscious consumers.

Furthermore, the Swiss Water Process maintains the flavor integrity of the coffee beans. Chemical decaffeination can strip away some of the volatile compounds that contribute to a coffee's unique taste. With the Swiss Water Process, coffee beans are soaked in a proprietary Green Coffee Extract, which selectively removes caffeine while leaving the flavors intact. This results in a decaffeinated coffee that retains much of the original taste and aroma, giving you the best of both worlds.