In the Grinder - Our Daily Coffee Weblog

The Cup of Excellence competition has pushed the limits in the quality coffee movement since 1999.  It has played a major role in developing the high-end specialty market and was the tool that connected many farmers to buyers.  Opinions might differ here, but this program was one of the first (if not the first) to introduce highly traceable microlots into our market with a great deal of information but always giving priority to cup quality.  Our vision and ideals are aligned with the CoE program and this is why we are involved and support it.

This harvest season we brought in three different Cup of Excellence microlots from El Salvador.  All of these three lots are from producers we personally know and have worked with in the past.  Jason and I had the privilege to hang out with all of them on our pre-harvest visit to El Salvador a couple of weeks ago.  Producers both in El Salvador and Nicaragua kept mentioning how important placing at the Cup of Excellence had been for their coffee career.  For many it is what paved the road to success.

Available now:

Fernando Lima at Santa Elena

#34 – Andalucia from Sociedad Lima y Hermanos (P3665)

This is an organic farm that is owned by the Lima brothers.  We have worked with them for several years now with Santa Elena Estate and Campanula (part of our microlot selection).  This group has proven year after year their commitment to quality at the Cup of Excellence program.  This year alone they had three different farms win awards including Santa Elena!  Coffee farming is nothing new for them as it has been in their family for multiple generations now.  Andalucia is located on the western side of the Apaneca-Ilamatepec mountain range in Ahuachapan (close to the Santa Ana area).  Cupping notes: lemon, apple, cranberry, floral, berry, apricot, papaya, blackberry, sugar cane juice and peach.

Ernesto Menendez at Las Brumas

#23 – Las Brumas from Ernesto Menendez (P3664)

Las Brumas (The Mist) is an amazing variety garden were coffee is being cultivated and segregated by variety.  This lot is mostly comprised of Bourbon variety, a heirloom Arabica variety that has prevailed in El Salvador for many years even though it is not as high-yielding as others and is more susceptible to pests.  The sweetness in the cup of this variety is unbelievable though!  Ernesto is a well-seasoned cupper, Q grader, has been involved with CQI and has served in multiple CoE juries.  Las Brumas is located at 1450 – 1700 masl, which is extremely high for El Salvador.  The mist in the area is extremely volatile.  At one point we could see the ocean and five minutes later it was gone.  Cupping notes: tropical fruit, papaya, cinnamon, apple butter, rum, caramel, blackcurrant and honey.

#6 – Los Planes from Sergio Ticas (P3666)

Los Planes is located in the department of Chalatenango and in close proximity to the town of La Palma.  This is on the northwest part of the country bordering Honduras.  This is an up-and-coming growing region in El Salvador that has largely been unexplored.  We are really excited to be working with Sergio to get the best coffees from the region.  Chalatenango is full of pergamineros (farmers who do their own depulping and drying).  This adds another level of complexity to the producer since they do not outsource this part of the processing.  Sergio is an icon of specialty coffee in El Salvador and one of the most well respected producers.  Los Planes is at about 1600 masl and has focused on traditional Bourbon and Pacamara varieties.  Keep an eye on this micro-region in El Salvador!  Cupping notes: vanilla, butter, caramel, lemon, orange, cinnamon, honeysuckle, melon and berry.

All of these coffees have been vetted multiple times by a national and international jury.  They are certainly the crème-of-the-crop as far as El Salvador goes.  We are excited for the future of specialty coffee and grateful for Cup of Excellence for pushing the bar!

Give us a call to get your hands on any of these exclusive offerings from El Salvador.

View from Las Brumas