Ricardo Valdivieso, his wife Patricia and their daughters have made their mark not just in El Salvadors coffee landscape but in the fabric of El Salvador politics and history for many years. The farm has 3 monoliths recently discovered in the grounds. A representation of these strange artifacts have been incorporated into the farms logo.
Ahuachapan is a region in western El Salvador near the border of Guatemala. The majority of the region is montainous although altitude rarely exceeds 1400 meters, it exhibits a number of attributes that lead to high quality coffee production.
Notable landmarks include the beautiful town of Concepción de Ataco and ‘El Imposible’ national park in the Apaneca llamatepec mountain range.
Origin
El Salvador
Subregion
Apaneca, Ahuachapan
Harvest Season
2022/23
Producer Type
Single Estate
Farm Name
Finca Santa Leticia
Processing
Washed
Growing Altitude
1300m
Plant Species
Arabica
Variety
Bourbon
Coffee Grade
SLV CA WA SHG
Screen Size
15 Up
Bag Weight
69 KG BAG
Bag Types
Grain Pro / Ecotact
The Art of Production
Washed coffee, 20 days on a 9 acre patio with frequent raking and turning. Red cherry selection only. Immediate pulping and demucilage. This farm recently had success in the El Salvador Cup of Excellence Competition. The coffee rests in a repositry for 45 days post drying.
History of Coffee in El Salvador
Coffee was first introduced to El Salvador from the Caribbean as a garden crop in the mid-18th century but did not gain a commercial production foothold until 1850’s because indigo, easier to grow and more profitable, was king. Coffee was first exported—695 bags—in 1856 and the government began to encourage coffee farming. Exponential growth coincided with the development of synthetic indigo near the end of the century. At one time, El Salvador was one of the largest producers of commercial coffees. Today, with a focus on quality over quantity, 70% of coffee from El Salvador sells for a premium above commodity prices.
