This time our passion for coffee led us to the depths of El Salvador.
With our new limited edition variety based on our MicroFarm Project, that we selected though our travels and test is El Salvador- Vista Hermosa!
El Salvador
El Salvador is the smallest and most densely inhabited country in Central America, with a population of 6,29 million and its capital is San Salvador.
Coffee was first farmed in El Salvador for home consumption in the beginning of the 19th century and slowly became one of their main exports and an integral part of its economy. Over 90% of coffee made in El Salvador is made in shaded farms, while 80% of the forests of El Salvador are related to shaded coffee plantations.
The Pacas family
Our new variety comes straight for the Vista Hermosa farm of the Pacas family that is well known all over the world!
Their relationship with coffee begins in the 1800s when Jose Rosa Pacas plated Arabica Bourbon coffee trees on the Apaneca Lamatepec mountain. The love for coffee the family has, has been shared from generation to generation until 1905 when Fernando Alberto Pacas Figueroa discovered some different coffee trees in one of his plantations. With the new seeds he planted trees that were named Pacas in his honor! Today, the Pacas family controls all stages of production and process in its own processing mills.
The dedication and ideals of the Pacas family have inspired us and made us travel all the way to El Salvador to meet them and learn how they plant, pick and produce the raw coffee in their farm.
El Salvador Vista Hermosa
The result of this meeting is our new specialty coffee which is part of our MicroFarm Project. The El Salvador Vista Hermosa of the Arabica, Pacas variety.
Its name comes from the farm where it is grown and the method used to process it is known as yellow honey. The farm is situated on the shores of lake Coatepeque and has an amazing view. It is considered the best place for planting the Pacas variety which has taken the place of the Bourbon variety which used to be planted in the area.
Let’s take a look!
Farm: Vista Hermosa
Altitude: 1000-1150m
Location: Canton Caña Brava, Coatepeque , Santa Ana
Variety: Pacas
Harvest: October to May
Flavor
The Pacas variety, discovered in the early 1900s in El Salvador by the Pacas family maintains many qualities well sought after in the Bourbon coffee variety. A typical flavor with medium body that has balanced acidity and sweetness, with flowery and spice tones.
When it comes to El Salvador Vista Hermosa, it is the first time we use coffee processed with the yellow honey method. The method is has gained this name because of the sticky texture the seed takes reminiscent of honey and because of the light yellow color from their exposure to the sun. Because of this process the coffee has a fuller body and less acidity that the ones processed with the wet method and has a more uniform and stable quality than coffee that has been dry processed.
Direct trade
The raw material we use at Coffee Island is of great importance to us, so we come in direct contact with the farms with which we cooperate and we evaluate the coffee we import based on the SCAA grade (specialty Coffee Association of America) at Q- Graders level thus offering the most complete coffee experience.
Through our partnerships based in respectful relationships with secluded farmers in coffee producing countries, we build long-term deals that ensure the methods of harvest and processing ensuring high quality for our Greek market consumers. At the same time, we take the science of coffee even further, by trading knowledge and secrets so that we can offer you quality coffee that maintains the traits of its origin.
Packaging
Our limited edition Vista Hermosa is available for you to try it! You will be able to find it at our coffee roasters at the specialty, MicroFarm stands. The 200g packaging you will find it in is triple coated and it has a release valve so that it can maintain its freshness without coming in contact with the environment.
Enjoy!
