Las Mesitas, El Salvador

This all-Pacamara lot brings together coffees from two producers in Chalatenango, El Salvador. The majority of the lot comes from Brenda Hernandez of Finca El Ojo de Agua, with a smaller contribution from Hector Cruz Ochoa Landaverde of Finca El Naranjo.

Brenda Hernandez — Finca El Ojo de Agua, San Fernando, Chalatenango

Brenda Hernandez is an entrepreneur, community leader, and coffee producer whose farm, Finca El Ojo de Agua, takes its name from a natural spring that is an important part of life on the farm. Brenda says she loves both coffee and life in the countryside, and over the years, the farm has become not only her primary source of income but also an important source of employment for people in her community.

Brenda began working with conventional coffee nine years ago and shifted her focus toward specialty coffee three years ago. Her dedication to quality has resulted in coffees consistently scoring 85 points and above.

Coffee at Finca El Ojo de Agua is truly a family effort. Brenda’s mother, Emma, oversees the farm, while Brenda manages administration, purchasing, labor, and coffee sales. Her father, Francisco, and her brothers help manage the farms and day-to-day agricultural work. Together, they grow several varieties, including Pacas, Costa Rica 95, Pacamara, and Lempira.

For this Pacamara lot, cherries are selectively harvested and pulped on the farm the same day. The parchment is then transported by mule or horse approximately two kilometers to Brenda’s home, where it is fermented in concrete tanks for around 15 hours or longer, depending on the weather. After fermentation, the coffee is washed and rinsed two or three times to remove the remaining mucilage before being dried slowly on raised beds under the sun. Because of the farm’s microclimate and natural shade, the coffee is not exposed to direct sunlight throughout the day, resulting in a slow drying process that averages around 15 days.

Once fully dried, the coffee is stored in a dedicated room conditioned for dry parchment before being delivered directly to the Caravela buying station.

Hector Cruz Ochoa Landaverde — Finca El Naranjo, La Palma, Chalatenango

The remaining portion of this lot, approximately 55 kg, comes from Hector Cruz Ochoa Landaverde of Finca El Naranjo in La Palma, Chalatenango.

At 74 years old, Hector is an experienced coffee producer who farms approximately two hectares at 1,210 meters above sea level. He grows both Pacamara and Pacas at Finca El Naranjo and began working with Caravela during the most recent harvest.

Together, these two producers contribute to a unique all-Pacamara lot that highlights the dedication, family involvement, and continued pursuit of quality among coffee producers in Chalatenango.

Region: Chalatenango, El Salvador

Elevation: 1200-1600 masl

Process: Semi-Washed

Variety: Pacamara

We Taste: Black Plum / Dried Cranberry / Bosc Pear