Las Mercedes Family

The trip started in El Salvador where my friend Jeff Taylor and I met Aida and Jose Antonio from Jasal.  We visited many farms and cupped much coffee; one farm was Finca Santa Rita.  This farm was covered with volcanic ash from the great eruption a few years ago that destroyed that crop, the ash looked like snow three feet deep and covering everything.  Today the minerals from that eruption have created a juicy and flavorful cherry that Aida processed naturally for us to create a truly outstanding coffee we will have this summer. 

Besides this find, we were able to meet Beto Ochoa of La Montana.  Last year we purchased and loved Beto's coffee.  La Montana was the #1 coffee at the 2007 El Salvador Cup of Excellence; it is the famed Pacamara varietal.    Just two weeks prior to our visit, The Chalatenango region of El Salvador was hit hard by a wind cyclone and 90% of his crop was destroyed.  We were so touched by his story and loss that we raised hundreds of dollars to help his family.  This year we will be lucking enough to be getting one of only a handful of bags from his new crop (we cupped what survived and it was sweet and wonderful, best on the table). 

Another farmer we met was Sergio and his wife Isabella of Las Planes.  They also grow the Pacamara varietal plus a great Bourbon near Beto in Chalatenango, and while they also suffered wind damage, it was a lot less severe and we hope to be introducing his coffee this year.   It should also be noted that Los Planes finished 2nd at the 2006 Cup of Excellence.

The farmer to win that year was Lucia of Las Mercedes (2006 1st place COE) who we also spent two days with.  Lucia and her sister grow a great coffee that is clean, balanced, and flavorful.  The coffee is not only great, but their commitment to the local community is to be applauded.  They have embraced their position as benefactor to the local community and together we are helping the people there.  I will share more of that in a future blog. 

Besides finding great coffee, these trips are an opportunity to meet the farmer and monitor quality, celebrate success (or in the case of Beto Ocho provide encouragement), then craft strategy for the next crop.  We also get to meet the pickers, to see firsthand how the farmer is committed to sustainable social practices and walk the farm to see how the farmer is committed to healthy environmental practices.  I will talk more about these as I introduce our Coffee Klatch Roasting 'Farm Direct Trade' program.