Café Ragá is a renowned specialty coffee organization and cafe based in the La Paz region of Honduras, co-founded and led by coffee expert Rony Gámez. The project functions both as a vibrant local coffee shop and as an agricultural support platform that connects smallholder Honduran producers with the international specialty coffee market. Project Origin's collaboration with Rony started 10 years ago. Since then, Project Origin and Café Ragá have connected many coffee producers with roasters all over the world.
Rony Gámez is not just a coffee producer; he is a Honduran Cup of Excellence judge and offers support to farmers throughout Honduras while leading the team at Café Ragá. Café Ragá connects producers with buyers, but also provides technical support, agricultural education, and processing and post-harvest guidance to help improve quality and increase consistency. Rony and the team at Café Ragá are doing exceptional work for their coffee and farming community, and it is a pleasure to partner with them as one of Project Origin’s on-the-ground support organizations in Honduras.
As well as contributing to his community, Rony owns and manages the 5-hectare farm Kukurucho. The farm is named after its location on the peak of a mountain, referred to as a “cucurucho” in Spanish. It is not only a place for Rony to produce his own lots, but it also functions as a seed bank farm, providing Project Origin producers with the opportunity to diversify their coffee varieties.
As this land is isolated from other farms, it is a great and safe option for a seed bank. The varieties planted and harvested at Kukurucho include Typica, Geisha, Pacamara, Pacas, Yellow Catuai, and SL-28.
Rony himself is a second-generation producer originally from Marcala, La Paz. He began producing coffee over a decade ago and, at that time, his goal was to establish a farm that could serve as a research centre for processing methods to be used by the community. Knowing that was his goal then, and seeing the platform he has built today, proves that Rony is an exceptional character—diligent, kind, and proactive.
He is a skilled cupper, using cupping as a key teaching tool and quality evaluation method. When asked what he would like to see changed or improved in the industry, Rony says: “I hope to see greater recognition for small producers and more direct trade opportunities. Collaboration, education, and fair access to international markets would help elevate the quality and sustainability of specialty coffee.”
Cup of Excellence Achievements
| Year |
Award / Placement |
Farm and Lot |
Nomination / Category |
| 2026 |
1st Place |
Finca El Pinporro (Francisco Alvarado) |
Exotic Varieties (Geisha - 90.5 Presidential Score) |
| 2026 |
4th Place |
Finca Virginias (Fabio Caballero Jr.) |
Specialty Varieties / COE National |
| 2026 |
5th Place |
Finca El Laurel (Oscar Daniel Ramirez) |
Specialty Varieties / COE National (El Paraíso Region) |
| 2026 |
7th Place |
Finca El Zapote (Wilmer Grau) |
Specialty Varieties / COE National |
| 2025 |
Top 10 |
Finca Monarca II (Keilor Hernandez & Erixon Rodriguez) |
Specialty Varieties (1,850 msnm Elevation) |
| Prior Year |
1st Place |
Finca El Rubí (Parainema Legacy) |
Parainema Category |
Note: Data reflects the official competition seasons reported directly by the Raga Coffee Project in partnership with local producers in Honduras.