Chalatenango, El Salvador - Medium roast

A really nice honey processed coffee from Chalatenango!

Cafe Norte is a micro-grinder that processes exclusive specialty coffees in the Alotepac-Metapan region of northern El Salvador. This batch comes from three farms in Chalatenango. Fincas Machuca and La Hondurita are owned by the Diaz brothers, while Finca San Andreas belongs to Fredy Recinos.

Coffee production in these northern mountains of Chalatenango is relatively new. The microregion where these farms are located is extremely difficult to access, especially during the rainy season when already challenging roads become dangerous to drive along. Despite this, the region's mountainous terrain and microclimate are very suitable for the production of high-quality Arabica.

The art of production

This honey-processed Pacas batch is dried very slowly on raised beds for 30–38 days.

The 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 foothold in commercial production until the 1850s 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 cultivation. Exponential growth coincided with the development of synthetic indigo towards the end of the century. El Salvador was once one of the largest producers of commercial coffee. Today, with a focus on quality over quantity, 70% of El Salvador’s coffee is sold at a premium over commodity prices.

Facts about coffee:

• El Salvador, Chalatenango, Alotepac-Metapan
• Farms: Machuca, La Hondurita, San Andreas
• Score: 86.5/100
• Grows: 1500-1600 m.a.s.l.
• Arabica: Pacas
• Process: Honey
• Flavor notes of chocolate, fruit, fudge

We ship coffee that has rested up to 3 weeks after roasting when available but roast to order when needed. We ship the coffee as quickly as possible, free shipping on all orders over 699kr within Sweden.