Finca Los Angeles, El Salvador

Amidst the Ahuachapán mountains in western El Salvador lies Finca Los Angeles, a stunning 23-manzana farm dedicated exclusively to the Pacamara coffee varietal. It is part of the Los Naranjos group, led by Sigfredo Corado, a retired professor of Agronomy from the National School of Agriculture.

Finca Los Angeles embodies a commitment to sustainable practices. Sigfredo, with a decade of experience managing the farm, has championed the use of no herbicides. This approach allows the soil to replenish its nutrients naturally, creating a robust foundation for exceptional coffee.

The farm itself is a masterpiece of organization. Divided beautifully into 23 manzanas, each section shelters roughly 3,000 Pacamara trees. Shade trees and wind barriers stand guard, providing optimal growing conditions for these precious coffee plants.

But Finca Los Angeles goes beyond its own success. It actively contributes to the community through the Renacer Program (Reborn in Spanish). This technical coffee field school and educational program, funded by Raices (Roots) and supported by Catholic Relief Services in El Salvador, empowers local producers with knowledge on sustainable farm management practices. Graduates from the program even lend their expertise to the day-to-day operations of Finca Los Angeles, creating a valuable cycle of learning and growth.

The Pacamara trees are well known for producing coffee with exceptional cup quality through their complex and delicious flavours. However, they prove fairly tricky to grow - they're consideribly susceptible to coffee leaf rust, a fungal disease that is a common blight of coffee farmer. Despite the challenges, Pacamara beans are particularly popular in El Salvador, where they frequently win awards in Cup of Excellence competitions