El Salvador Pacas Family Double Feature
A Double Feature from the Pacas Family
Siblings María and Alfredo Pacas are fifth-generation producers from one of the most prominent coffee-growing families in El Salvador. Tracing their legacy back to the 1940s, the Pacas family has been an industry leader from the start, gaining renown with the discovery of the rare Pacas variety in 1949. This variety turned out to be a naturally occurring mutation of Bourbon and has since been cultivated and celebrated throughout the coffee-growing world. The family later discovered the Bernardina variety on their farm, Finca Los Bellotos, and they remain the exclusive producers of this variety since its discovery in 2012. These discoveries are just a few examples of the Pacas family's many innovations, and they continue to be at the cutting edge of coffee research and production today.
This year we are excited to announce a double feature from the Pacas family: a microlot from Finca El Retiro and a microlot from Finca La Esperanza.
Finca El Retiro, Santa Ana
Finca El Retiro, in Santa Ana, El Salvador, was established in 1927 by Fernando Pacas, the father of siblings María and Alfredo, who run the farm now. The microlot that we have the privilege of featuring from this farm is a honey-processed Red Bourbon and Pacas blend. Coffee cherries are hand-picked and carefully sorted, with any underripe green cherries removed. Within 24 hours after harvesting, the cherries go through a mechanical depulper to remove the skin, and some of the mucilage is left to dry on the seeds. Once the coffee reaches the desired moisture and level of fermentation, the coffee is ready for milling and export. The result is a sweet and elegant coffee that you can drink all day long! In the cup, we're finding notes of cashews and dried fruits, paired with the buttery, caramel sweetness of stroopwafels.
Finca La Esperanza, Santa Ana
This coffee pairs perfectly with our second feature from the Pacas family: a Pacamara microlot from Finca La Esperanza. This is an 87-hectare farm owned and operated by the Pacas family in Santa Ana. This farm is well known for producing varieties such as Bernardina, Pacamara, Red Bourbon, and Pacas, and for their experimental processing. This year, a Bernardina honey from Finca La Esperanza even won the El Salvador Cup of Excellence!
Our lot from this farm is a naturally processed Pacamara. As always, the cherries are carefully hand-picked and sorted with care. The cherries are then transported to the mill, where they are immediately spread out to dry on patios. During the first two days of drying, they are laid out in a thin layer to dry quickly, limiting the amount of fermentation. On the third day, the cherries are spread more thickly and turned frequently to promote slow, even drying. This entire process is carried out with meticulous attention to detail. Overnight, the coffee is even covered to prevent dew from affecting the cherries. Once the coffee reaches a moisture content of 12%, it is ready for milling and export. The skill and dedication of the Pacas family is evident in the cup, where this natural microlot presents a standout flavor profile of red wine, brown sugar sweetness, and spicy cloves.
It is always a joy to feature Pacas coffees in our lineup. In addition to their dedication to quality, it is a privilege to work with producers who prioritize their social and environmental responsibilities to such a high degree. The Pacas family's commitment to competitive wages and employee benefits, reforestation efforts, and farming methods that improve soil health and protect the surrounding ecosystem are some of the many reasons we are proud to offer these coffees in our shops.
El Salvador Finca El Retiro
A sweet and balanced microlot from the Pacas family's Finca El Retiro in Santa Ana, El Salvador.
El Salvador Finca La Esperanza
From the Pacas family's Finca La Esperanza, this Pacamara microlot is full-bodied with notes of red wine, clove, and brown sugar.