El Salvador Ariz Family Gesha Natural

Flavors of jammy, earl gray tea, and coffee cherry

Sometimes, the rare gems we’re looking for are hidden right in front of our eyes. This was the epiphany I had when I first discovered the coffees of El Salvador: a treasure of an origin and my top choice for sourcing coffees in Central America.

Early into owning my own business—when many green coffee buyers had their sights set on Guatemala, Costa Rica, or Nicaragua—El Salvador drew me in. It’s something of a haven for heirloom coffee varietals, many of which had long been uprooted elsewhere. When the coffee boom of the 1980s shifted other Central American origins toward newer coffee varietals, the slow growth of El Salvador’s coffee industry gave older varietals an extended hold. Now, cherished types such as Bourbon, Pacas, and Pacamara are found almost exclusively in El Salvador.

Today, I have a strong friendship and business relationship with the Ariz Family, whose 3 farms and small micro mill are infusing exciting innovations into El Salvadoran specialty coffee production. Father-and-son team Ricardo and Marco source a small amount of cherries from other family and friends as well, making Ariz coffees a true community affair.

The El Salvador Ariz Family Gesha Natural, sourced by Olympia Coffee Roasting, represents a meticulous collaboration between the Ariz family and the roaster. This lot highlights the Gesha varietal, a plant often celebrated in the specialty industry for its distinct, tea-like clarity and complex aromatic profile. By utilizing a natural process, the producers have allowed the coffee cherry to dry in contact with the bean, a technique that frequently imparts a heightened sweetness and a more pronounced, fruit-forward character to the final cup.

When evaluating a coffee of this caliber, tasters often look for the interplay between the varietal’s inherent elegance and the influence of the drying method. The resulting profile—described as jammy with notes of Earl Grey tea and coffee cherry—invites a nuanced sensory experience. For those looking to better articulate these specific attributes, consulting a flavor wheel can be a helpful tool in identifying the subtle layers present in this unique El Salvadorian offering.