El Salvador Finca El Retiro

At Finca El Retiro in the Apaneca-Ilamatepec Mountain Range, sibling duo María and Alfredo Pacas cultivate a multitude of varieties, Red Bourbon and Pacas varieties, of which this honey-processed in comprised. Coffee cherries are hand-picked, carefully sorted, and dried with meticulous attention.

During the first two days of drying, they are laid out in a thin layer to dry quickly, limiting the amount of fermentation. 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.

It is always a joy to feature Pacas coffees in our lineup, not only for their quality but also for the family’s commitment to competitive wages, employee benefits, reforestation efforts, and farming practices that support soil health and the surrounding ecosystem.