San Jose is Gloria’s favourite of her farms. Until very recently, all the plants there were planted by her father – it’s productivity has been dropping off as the plants get older so she’s starting to replant now, but she’s also sad to have to remove those coffee trees her father planted. So far, about a third of the plants are new, whilst two thirds are around 60 years old. San Jose was originally bought by Gloria’s grandfather, at which time it was a big farm. It was split between Gloria’s father and three of his brothers, but he bought back land from one of them and recombined it into the San Jose we know today – it’s still pretty small by El Salvador standards at around 10 hectares.
This is all milk chocolate up front, with just a little biscuit and some marshmallow creating a sweet and moreish cup.
Farm Information
- Country: El Salvador
- Department: Ahuachapán
- Municipality: Apaneca
- Nearest city: El Saitillal
- Farm: Finca San José
- Owner: Gloria Rodriguez
- Farm manager: Antonio Avelino
- Processing method: Washed
- Varietal: Red Bourbon
- Altitude: 1,500 m.a.s.l.
- Average annual rainfall: 2,500mm
- Average temperature: 17ºC
- Type of soil: Clay loam
- Type of shade: Pepeto, inga sp, and other native trees
- Typical native fauna: Armadillo, gray fox, agouti, pocket gopher, magpie, turquoise-browed motmot