Episode 347 on Monday the 6th of July 2015 El Salvador Finca Argentina Washed Estate Bourbon

This coffee is in its 5th year with us and we continue to develop this amazing relationship with yet again a new development. We have split the farm up into Tablon's, and you can really taste the differences, we did this a couple of years ago. But the problem with this, is sometimes you just want a great coffee and a quantity of it. 

Last year they had a massive leaf rust issue, so we were only able to have this "estate" grade, but it's great to report the farm has bounced back, and although still not perfect, the farm is on the road to recovery. But it was such a success we have done this again this year. 

This lot comes from all the tablons, anything that scored over 86 on the cupping table and under 89 made its way into this. Anything over 89 got separated and anything under got sold as commodity coffee. We have decided to call it the estate version of this coffee, although it's like any other coffee that doesn't have this level of traceability. 

The first time we came across this farm, it came as a very well presented sample that just landed on my doorstep. It came from someone who had visited the farm and offered to try to help find a buyer for them in the UK. We get lots of these and normally give them a try on the cupping table, but find they are just not good enough for us to stock. This one was quite different: the quality was amazing. So initially we stocked it, although we knew very little about it. Since that day, I've been to see Alejandro five times in El Salvador, the last two times stopping at his house with his family and enjoying a day at the beach. Alejandro has also been to see us in Stafford twice. We have worked with him on projects (some successful, others we will brush over); we have also told him what we would like to see from the farm (some he took on board, others he didn't he's the farmer after all).

Most importantly, he has become a very very good friend, and someone whose coffee I love and company I enjoy. Alejandro took over running the farm from his father a few years ago, having returned to El Salvador after travelling around the world as an investment banker. A very intelligent guy and a very good business man, he understood the farm needed to step up in work if it was to flourish: lots of work has gone into making this cup the quality one it has become. Part of this work last year was to separate the farm into tablons (the Spanish word for plot). It was separated into 8 plots, with 7 of them growing coffee.

 

The coffee is 100% Bourbon, as 70% of plant stock in El Salvador is. This heirloom varietal is one of the reasons why coffee from this country is right up amongst some of the best in the world. They have the perfect climate and conditions for this low yielding, high maintenance strain.

The farm is based in the Apaneca-Ilamtepec mountain range near to the town of Turin in the Ahuachapan dept. During the non-picking season 16 people work on the farm, maintaining and tending to the plants. During the picking period this goes up to 50 people. The altitude of the farm is 1350m. The coffee is a washed process coffee, and is sun dried on patios.

This is a world exclusive for us, and one I think you will enjoy. In the cup expect lots of mouthfeel, thinkmelted chocolate, smooth and balanced, with a hazelnut like finish. A perfect example of an amazing El Salvador.

• Country: El Salvador 
• Farm: Finca Argentina
• Varietal: Bourbon
• Processing: Fully washed and Sun Dried
• Workers: 16 full time rising to 50 during the picking season
• Altitude: 1,300 m.a.s.l.
• Owner: Alejandro Martinez
• City: Near Turin, Ahuachapan
• Region: Apaneca-Ilamatepec Mountain ranges El Salvador