La Avila SL28

Near Santiago de Maria in southeastern El Salvador, high in the mountains of Cerro El Tigre, lies the Las Mercedes family of farms. Finca Las Mercedes has been passed down through five generations of the Ortiz family. Through their 125-year history, they have obtained a reputation as one of the elite coffee producers in El Salvador.

In 2006 Finca Las Mercedes won First Place in the El Salvador Cup of Excellence. Lucia de Ortiz, who manages marketing and relationships for the farm, placed a call to Jeff Taylor, owner of PT’s Coffee Roasting Co. and Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, and they began a partnership that has lasted since that initial call in 2006. Each year we are excited to explore the diversity of varieties, processing, and innovations from Lucia and her team.

 Finca Las Mercedes and the Ortiz family continually give back to their community, having constructed a local school, a health clinic, providing food for a nursing home, and support for the local soccer team. The health clinic currently serves more than 13 communities that surround Finca Las Mercedes. It is an invaluable part of the farm community and treasured by the neighbors and workers.

The La Avila SL28, sourced from the Ortiz family in the Cerro El Tigre region of El Salvador, represents a compelling intersection of geography and botanical heritage. While the SL28 varietal is historically synonymous with the high-altitude landscapes of Kenya, its cultivation in El Salvador highlights the global adaptability of this prized cultivar. Known for its distinct profile, SL28 is often sought after for its vibrant acidity and complex, layered structure.

This specific lot is brought to market by Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, who have carefully processed the harvest to highlight the unique characteristics imparted by the Cerro El Tigre terroir. When evaluating the nuances of such a distinct origin, enthusiasts often find it helpful to reference the flavor wheel to better identify the specific aromatic and taste markers present in the cup. By bridging traditional varietal traits with the unique environmental conditions of the Ortiz family farm, this coffee offers a focused look at modern viticulture in Central America.