Cup of Excellence from a unique place in the world: the Apaneca-Ilamatepec volcanic mountain range

COFFEE IN EL SALVADOR

El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, with approximately 6.5 million inhabitants, making it also the most densely populated. It is often referred to as the "45-minute country" because everything is said to be 45 minutes away, although this is not true when it comes to its mountainous areas, some of which are very difficult to access, and many of them are coffee-producing regions. It is also known for being the land of volcanoes, as it has a total of 23, distributed in 5 groups, crossing the country from east to west... many of them still active.

Despite its small size, for the coffee industry, El Salvador is one of the significant players. Coffee arrived here between 1800 and 1815, starting to be cultivated in the shade of native trees, as it happened in Ethiopia, its land of origin. Its cultivation was successful, a result of technological modernization and the commitment to red bourbon (a high-quality variety) in the country. By the mid-20th century, El Salvador became the third-largest coffee exporter globally, and in 1970, the coffee trade represented 50% of the country's GDP. It had a robust industry of high-quality coffee, earning the nickname "the golden bean". However, pests, political issues, severe inequalities, and the civil war that ravaged the country between 1979 and 1992 decimated its economy, including the coffee trade, which became almost negligible in volume.

But the coffee history of El Salvador is like those epic movies where the hero, after taking a severe beating, rises from the canvas to continue the fight. A significant effort is being made at all levels (governmental, infrastructure, financing, etc.) to recover some of its past glory, placing a strong emphasis on quality and relying on some of the world's most renowned specialty coffees. All of this is happening despite the strong economic and migratory crisis still affecting the country.

THE ORIGIN OF OUR COFFEE: APANECA-ILAMATEPEC

Our tenth cup of excellence comes from a unique place in the world: the Apaneca-Ilamatepec volcanic mountain range. Apaneca is the name of the mountain range that stretches across the west of the country. Its name means "place of water and winds," or "river of winds." It is a natural park that is a world biosphere reserve, famous for its Route of the Flowers and its distinctive gastronomy.

As for coffee, a very significant fact: it was the first place in the country to obtain the Designation of Origin for its coffee in 2010. This is a great recognition achieved by very few regions in the world. As a result of its privileged natural environment and microclimate, it has created a unique variety in the world, the Pacas, which we will talk about a little later. And the second curiosity is "Ilamatepec," which is the name of the most famous volcano found in the area, also called "Santa Ana volcano." It is the highest volcano in the country, standing at 2,381 meters, still active, with its last eruption occurring in 2005.

In this privileged environment, we encounter our distinguished guest: The coffee from Apaneca-Ilamatepec. The beans that grow in this area are known for their very fruity and floral flavor, with notes of peach, dark chocolate, and caramel, an elegant acidity, light sweetness, and a balanced body; characteristics that can be clearly tasted in the cup of excellence we have selected for you. Ideal for savoring in drip coffee makers, as its slower extraction allows for a more pronounced capture of the fruity aspects of this coffee.

FARM "LAS NUBES"

One of the main challenges of this coffee, as is the case in some African countries, is that the crops are highly fragmented: many families cultivate very small plots. The issue is that these families often lack access to their processing plants (known as "beneficios"), so they join cooperatives with other small producers and blend different batches of coffee, resulting in a loss of traceability that ultimately reduces the value (and price) of these coffees in international markets. This is not the case for "Finca Las Nubes," managed by Francisco Cerón. The Cerón family has been committed to quality for five generations, allowing them to invest in the necessary infrastructure to control all the processes involved in coffee preparation, including their own processing plant since 2014. The result is a coffee meticulously controlled from start to finish by a family with a long tradition of producing the highest quality coffee.

THE PACAS VARIETY: EL SALVADOR'S "LITTLE MIRACLE"

The cultivation of coffee in El Salvador consists of 100% Arabica varieties, with the majority being grown in the shade. It is estimated that 60% of the production is Red Bourbon coffee (for more information, you can refer to the article "Coffee Bourbon Types" on the cafescaracas.com blog), and 25% is of the Pacas variety. This variety was discovered by Fernando Alberto Pacas in 1956 on his San Rafael farm when he noticed a completely different plant thriving in his coffee plantation. It is a spontaneous mutation of a red bourbon bush. However, unlike red bourbon, Pacas is a shorter tree with much denser foliage, allowing it to withstand harsh weather conditions such as strong winds, excessive exposure to sunlight, or water scarcity. Moreover, it is highly resistant to diseases and provides a greater quantity of cherries, meaning more coffee per bush. This "little natural miracle" is found only in El Salvador, and the Pacas lineage, currently in its fifth generation, has become one of the most illustrious surnames in the world of coffee.

It took 30 years to successfully crossbreed the intriguing Pacas variety with Maragogype (a famous variety known for the large size of its fruit), creating one of the most sought-after varieties in the world today: Pacamara.

TASTING NOTE:

Coffee with a peach aroma and notes of dark chocolate on the palate. Sweet, intense, with a good body and low acidity. It stands out for its chocolatey bitter notes.

Our cup of excellence is a tribute we pay to those exceptionally special coffees that we believe deserve to be known and enjoyed. These are seasonal collections that are constantly renewed, so if you're interested in this coffee, don't miss the opportunity and get it as soon as possible, either in our Caracas stores or through our online store at www.cafescaracas.com.