Altamira is one of the Cofinanzas Estates, located in the Apaneca-Lamatepec region, the richest coffee corridor of El Salvador. Altamira is 100% Bourbon. The coffee is grown in the nitrogen-rich soil of Los Ausoles, an area with a plethora of active geysers. This coffee is processed with fresh mineral spring water from the property. Altamira won 2nd place in the National Cupping Contest of Sustainable Rainforest Alliance Certified Farms.

Altitude: 3900 feet
Variety: Bourbon
Processing Method: Washed
Grade: Strictly Hard Bean
Species: Arabica
Harvest: December-March

Cup Characteristics: chocolate and carmel sweet flavor, medium acidity and well balanced.

Established in 1966, Cooperative Cuzcachapa was originally comprised of only 28 members; currently, there are more than 1300 members across the country, the majority of them small producers. Cuzcachapa has built its reputation on producing high quality coffees while promoting the economic and social empowerment of its members. Their mission is the social and economic betterment of coffee producers by means of joint action, helping them to obtain the greatest return on their own personal work as well as the elements of belonging to them, by taking advantage of the benefits of direct marketing in international coffee markets. The vision of the Cooperative is to become the leading coffee processor in the region, offering the greatest benefits to the protection of their ecological heritage: the local coffee-producing forests. Salvadorian coffees are one of the few in the world of the Bourbon variety, one of the most highly valued, with characteristics and overtones sought after by the most demanding connoisseurs of the world of coffee.

Altitude: 3600 feet
Variety: Bourbon
Processing Method: Washed
Grade: Strictly Hard Bean
Species: Arabica
Harvest: December-March

Cup Characteristics: soft cup, sweet, nice aroma, mild, soft acidity

El Condor is located in the Amatepec-Ilamatepec Mountain Range on the slopes of the Santa Ana Volcano. General Tomas Regalado, the president of El Salvador, planted the farm in 1880. El Condor was considered to be the General's best coffee farm. El Condor is unique because of the exceptional height of its coffee trees, which range from 5 to 7 meters tall. When Mr. Trygve Klingenberg of Solberg & Hansen from Norway saw these extraordinary trees, he renames El Condor "The Bourbon Jungle." El Condor works in harmony with the environment using only organic foliar fertilizers and native trees for shade. In 2003 the farm went 100% organic. The region is known as the Golden Belt because of the excellence fertile soil and ideal microclimate. El Condor won the Cup of Excellence in 2004.

Altitude: 4200 feet
Variety: Bourbon
Processing Method: Washed
Grade: Strictly Hard Bean
Species: Arabica
Harvest: December-March

Cup Characteristics: nutty aroma, hazelnuts, smooth body, caramel flavors, piquant acidity, clean

Cooperative Ucraprobex produces El Porvenir in the Apaneca-Ilamatepec Mountains. Ucraprobex is an association of cooperative coffee farms, in which the land is both cooperatively owned and collectively farmed. The association stresses environmentally sound production methods and strives to improve the quality of life for its members, through improved health care, education, housing and recreation. Ucraprobex is a member of Itzalco, whose members form the Fine Coffee Association of El Salvador. El Salvadorian coffee is grown under one of the world's densest shade canopies. All coffees that bear the Itzalco premium seal are produced and processed according to high quality standards. Their declaration of quality demands the coffee be 100% shade grown, strictly handpicked, processed within 12 hours, washed in pure fresh water and zero percent defects.

Altitude: 1500-6000 feet
Variety: Bourbon, Pacas, Pacamara
Processing Method: Washed
Grade: Strictly Hard Bean
Species: Arabica
Harvest: December-March

Cup Characteristics: fragrant aroma, flavors of chocolate, apricot & citrus with a soft, fine acidity

Jabali coffee is from the Asociacion Cooperative de Produccion Agropecuaria. This group has been producing coffee since 1980. The cooperative produces coffee and sugar cane. Jabali is comprised of 146 farmers, 12 of which are women. The participation of women within the cooperative is notorious and they are showing more and more initiative in management and fiscal positions.
The coffee farms are located at very high altitudes, producing the best cherries, 90% bourbon and 10% pacas varietals. The cooperative produces about 3,000 bags of coffee per year.

Altitude: 5679 feet
Variety: Bourbon and Pacas
Processing Method: Washed
Grade: Strictly Hard Bean
Species: Arabica
Harvest: December-March

Cup Characteristics: light sweet acidity, hazelnut and soft citrus, clean consistent, round body

Los Milagros is located near the Santa Ana Volcano. The rich soil in which this coffee is cultivated is franc-limey-clayey. The plantation is about 21 hectares, producing about 1500 kilos of exportable coffee per year. The area is covered in shade trees, including mahogany, conacaste, conifers, cedar, bamboo and other native species. The shade prevents erosion and their cover keeps the soil constantly moist. Los Milagros protects the habitat of three bird species considered to be near extinction, the Mona Hen, Gray Sparrowhawk and the Chocoya. Many species come to nest on the plantation, from the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. Los Milagros provides a nice habitat for migratory birds, with the shade trees that produce flowers, nectar and fruit. These trees also provide a home for the insects that the birds feed on during winter.

Three families live on the plantation; they work there throughout the year, in homes with running water, electricity and facilities. Their children are able to attend a local school and they all have health coverage through the owners of the plantation.

All of Los Milagros coffee is dried on the patios made of clay bricks, which ensure a consistent temperature for 7-8 days. The organic production and processing methods produce a very high quality, consistent cup.

Altitude: 2700 feet
Variety: Bourbon
Processing Method: Washed
Grade: Strictly Hard Bean
Species: Arabica
Harvest: December-March

Cup Characteristics: low acidity, night light floral aroma, clean and consistent, winy acidityEl Salvador Los Nogales

El Salvadorian coffee growing region contributes to the preservation of many local and migratory bird species. The Monterey Estate, one of the Cofinanzas Estates, is located in Tacuba, Ahuachapan and has been in the Batres-Bendix family for three generations. The Estate is located near the El Imposible National Park, where over 500 species of butterflies, almost 300 species of birds and 30 species of mammals take refuge. Monterey is a 100% Organic Bourbon Estate and its coffee production is about 600 bags per year. The combination of rich volcanic soil and a near perfect coffee growing climate produce a coffee with a beautiful coffee.

Altitude: 3600 feet
Variety: Bourbon
Processing Method: Washed
Grade: Strictly Hard Bean
Species: Arabica
Harvest: December-March

Cup Characteristics: sweet chocolate fragrance, nice smooth, rich body and pleasant aftertaste

Los Nogales is one of the Cofinanzas Estates, located near the small city of Ataco. It is one of the most beautiful coffee farms in El Salvador and has been organic for over 30 years. Los Nogales is 100% Bourbon, washed with mineral onsen waters from the Cofinanzas Estate. In total, the estate is about 46 Hectares.

Altitude: 3600-4050 feet
Variety: Bourbon
Processing Method: Washed
Grade: Strictly Hard Bean
Species: Arabica
Harvest: December-March

Cup Characteristics: crystal clear acidity, well balanced and smooth body

El Salvador La Florida Pipil is located in the Apaneca-Ilamatepec Mountain Range. La Florida Pipil is part of the Ucraprobex Association and became the first certified organic coffee farm in El Salvador in 1993. Karen Cebreros, President and CEO Elan Organic Coffees, had the opportunity to take part in this organic project. The growers of Pipil practice organic cultivation based on the following goals and guidelines: to protect biodiversity by means of shade and associated crops, to practice the ecological management of soil by using protection and organic nutrition measures, to practice pest management without use of chemicals, to abide by strict quality control standards and to offer tracking and certification, ensuring traceability.

Ucraprobex is an association of cooperative coffee farms, in which the land is both cooperatively owned and collectively farmed. The association stresses environmentally sound production methods and strives to improve the quality of life for its members, through improved health care, education, housing and recreation. Ucraprobex is a member of Itzalco, whose members form the Fine Coffee Association of El Salvador.

Altitude: 4200 feet
Variety: Bourbon, Pacamara/Maragogipe
Processing Method: Washed
Grade: Strictly Hard Bean
Species: Arabica
Harvest: December-March

Cup Characteristics: Sweet aroma, smooth body, bright acidity, clean and consistent cup

Santa Teresa is also part of the Cofinanzas Estates, located in the Apaneca-Ilamatepec region, near Ahuachapan. The Santa Teresa farm produces a beautiful Pacamara. According to Cofinanzas, "Pacamara is a hybrid Arabica coffee tree developed by the Salvadorian Coffee Research Institute in the late 1950's. This very special and rare coffee is a cross of the famous 'Maragogype' Arabica and 'Pacas', a Salvadorian high yielding mutation of the Arabica hybrid 'San Ramon Bourbon' discovered in 1956 by two prominent producers. Today, very few people have planted it because it is difficult to grow and does not produce as much as other coffee varietals, only about 3,000 bags are produced in El Salvador each year."
The coffee is processed at the geothermal Santa Teresa mill where it is washed with warm mineral spring water. Santa Teresa mill won the 2003 National Environmental Award in the Category of Entrepreneurial Efforts for the use of Geothermal Energy and the 2006 Central America Award for Environmental Innovation.

All organic practices are performed on this farm, weed control is performed by hand and Yucca Elephantipe barriers are used to control erosion. Medical care and salaries above the industry standard are offered to their workers.

This coffee is grown in the nitrogen-rich soils of Los Ausoles an area with many active geysers. The Santa Teresa Pacamara is also 100% sun patio dried, prepared for export at zero defects and above screen 18.

Altitude: 3600 feet
Variety: Bourbon
Processing Method: Washed
Grade: Strictly Hard Bean
Species: Arabica
Harvest: December-March

Cup Characteristics: sweet floral, chocolate fragrance, apricot and honeyed notes throughout the consistent, full rich bodied cup