Finca Serbia

Taste Notes:

Caramac, Stroop Waffle, Cacao Nibs

Description:

A still active volcano in the west of the country, Ilamatepec (the local name of the Santa Ana volcano) does not only provide a rich and fertile soil, but also a microclimate with dry winters and warm summers in a country dominated by tropical weather. Not surprising that coffee has been widely cultivated as early as the 19th century and fueled the Salvadorian economy for years.

Located in El Congo, south of Santa Ana and near to the Lake Coatepeque, Finca Serbia was founded back in 1930. Coffee has been its primary activity since its foundation. The farm cultivates coffee under shade trees, and has recently extended the varieties of the shade trees to cedars, oaks, and balsam in order to combat climate change. Those big and tall trees offer wider protection from the more and more intense summer sun. In addition to renewing the shade trees, Finca Serbia has also renewed several of its coffee trees more than ten years ago with leaf-rust resistant varieties. This strategy has paid off: while Central America has been hit by a wide laf rust pandemic in 2012, Finca Serbia were somehow spared.

Finca Serbia belongs today to Fernando Lima, alongside several other farms and the Balcanes Mill. The wet mill is located on the premises of Finca Serbia, which is perfect during harvest!

Varietal:

Bourbon

Process:

Washed

Altitude:

1000 masl

Produced by Fernando Lima in the El Congo region of El Salvador, Finca Serbia represents a classic expression of the Bourbon varietal. This specific lot undergoes a washed process, a technique often utilized to highlight the inherent clarity and structural acidity of the bean. Roasted by Coaltown Coffee, the profile leans into indulgent, confectionary territory, featuring distinct notes of Caramac, stroop waffle, and cacao nibs.

While washed coffees are frequently celebrated for their clean, crisp profiles, the specific terroir of El Congo can impart a unique depth to these traditional characteristics. To better understand how these specific descriptors align with broader industry standards, tasters may find it helpful to reference the flavor wheel. By focusing on the interplay between the Bourbon varietal’s natural sweetness and the precision of the washed method, this coffee offers a balanced experience that bridges the gap between comforting, dessert-like sweetness and refined, classic cup quality.