El Salvador | Santa Sofia | Red Bourbon | Washed

Region: Palo de Campana Canton, Santa Ana 

Elevation: 1470 masl

About: The Pacas family's legacy of coffee cultivation at Finca Santa Sofia spans five generations, tracing its origins back to 1927. Nestled within the fertile Apeneca Ilamatepec mountains, graced with nutrient-rich volcanic soil and a biodiverse jungle canopy, Santa Sofia consistently produces exceptional coffees, several of which have placed in the Cup of Excellence competition over the years. Despite its modest size of just over nine hectares, the farm punches well above its weight, thanks in large part to the care the Pacas family puts into every stage of cultivation and harvest. This lot comes from Bourbon trees planted across Santa Sofia's more established tablons, where the variety has had decades to settle into the volcanic soil and develop real depth of character. Processed using the traditional washed method, the cherries are pulped and fermented in water before drying, producing a coffee that's clean, sweet, and thoroughly approachable, with layers of caramel and brown sugar rounded out by milk chocolate.

Produced by the Pacas family in the Palo de Campana Canton of Santa Ana, this El Salvador offering showcases the classic profile of the Red Bourbon varietal. Cultivated at 1470 masl, the coffee undergoes a washed process, a method typically employed to highlight the inherent clarity and sweetness of the bean. Roasted by Proud Mary Coffee, the final cup emphasizes comforting, dessert-like qualities, specifically notes of caramel, brown sugar, and milk chocolate.

While washed coffees are often celebrated for their clean acidity and balanced structure, the specific terroir of Santa Ana frequently contributes to the approachable, sugar-browning characteristics found here. For those looking to better understand how these specific descriptors align with broader industry standards, consulting a flavor wheel can be a helpful exercise in identifying the nuances of such a traditional, well-executed roast. This lot serves as a refined example of the consistency and quality associated with the Pacas family’s long-standing production in the region.