Martinez’s Honduran Coffee warms up residents at Bixby Park
Photo by Jorge Hernandez
Michael Martinez brews coffee for Long Beach residents at the Harvest Farmers Market at Bixby Park on Saturday mornings. He aims to replicate the warmth of his hometown, Comayagua, Honduras.
Residents arrived at the market to buy produce, handcrafted goods and freshly made food and drinks. Martinez’s post, “Mijos Martinez,” is where organic coffee and specialty drinks are made with beans sourced from Honduras.
Martinez wanted to become the bridge for the average United States coffee consumer, who may be familiar with Colombian coffee and other varieties, to try out Honduran coffee.
“I wanted to showcase coffee, with how hard the Honduran coffee farmers work to make a great product,” Martinez said. “Honduras is more than all the bad media that we get with crime, immigration and everything.”
Honduran coffee is not as popular as Colombian and other recognized coffee being sourced, according to Martinez. He traveled to Honduras and returned with coffee in February of 2020 before the pandemic hit a month later.
The farmers' market is the only place Martinez sells coffee in Long Beach, as he begins to meet and talk to people about coffee. Throughout the last five years, he has travelled throughout Southern California looking to pursue his passion for coffee, landing him in Long Beach, where he has been selling the most.
“It’s great to meet different communities, but Long Beach felt most like home,” Martinez said. “This is where I was settled for the last five years.”
The coffee business he started has brought Martinez memories of his past as a kid drinking coffee and doing errands with his grandmother in Honduras. He is reminded of his time helping at the corner store in Comayagua, or as they called them, “pulperías.”
On the weekends, Martinez used to head up to the farm with the rest of the family to hang out and would bring back produce or other items needed for the pulpería.
He feels connected to these memories and his homeland through the similar work he puts in the farmers' market.
Other Honduran locals feel the same connection. Martinez has welcomed them into his store, realizing there is a large community in the area that he was unaware of.
“That’s been a huge bonus,” Martinez said. “It just feels aligned to everything I’m doing, kind of like I was supposed to be here in the area.”
His stand offers hot and cold options for customers to try out, including specialty drinks like Brown Sugar Banana and Coconut Cold Brew. Customers can also take bags of Hondruan coffee beans home or order them online at mijosmartinez.com.
The coffee shines with a fruity note, without the harsh acidity, along with a natural sweetness that soothes the palate with every sip — showcasing its unique taste in comparison to other brands available in Long Beach.
Martinez freshly brews the coffee with his own coffee maker, specifically brewed to the temperature and the quantity of the ground beans to be used. Along with cold-brewed options, he brings in thermal containers for residents for a refreshing option.
One of Martinez’s regulars, Genaro Bonilla, arrives by bike to fill his thermal as he commutes towards his destination.
“I support the local businesses that’s around the area wherever I go,” Bonilla said. “Martinez’s coffee is the reason I come back.”
New customers, curious about the coffee, were offered samples and were amazed by the quality and taste. Erica Amaro, a first-time customer, loved the coffee and the market’s atmosphere.
“It doesn’t taste like any of the other major coffees that I’ve tried,” Amaro said.
Martinez’s coffee has brought joy to residents through his attempt to bring the home-like atmosphere of Comayagua. He is praised for his commitment to the community and to his home nation as he continues to share the love of coffee.
“I feel great joy and pride as people look at me and are able to connect with me through just a simple cup of coffee,” Martinez said. “It’s just like a simplistic beauty and community, which is plenty for me.”
