El Salvador: San Jose, Amarangia

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.

The Amarangia (or amarancia sometimes!) is a mix of Yellow (Amarillo) and Orange (Naranja) Bourbon – the “gia” or “cia” is basically an”-ish” at the end of the word! I guess the best translation is “yellanish”!

This smaller lot was picked according to the variety's ripeness; Gloria and farm manager Tonio selected a small team of people to prepare it, based on their skills, ability and confidence in specific tasks.

The combination of both Yellow and Orange Bourbon created a wonderful combination of profiles and that was the main incentive to create a natural blend of both varietals and to offer this special lot, despite the huge efforts involved in selecting and separating them.

There's sweet orange running throughout this cup, shifting into honeycomb on the finish alongside a delicate cherry. A little twist of lime zest brings it back into citrus on the aftertaste.

• Country: El Salvador
• Department: Ahuachapán
• Municipality: Apaneca
• Nearest city: El Saitillal
• Farm: Finca San José
• Owner: Gloria Rodriguez
• Farm manager: Antonio Avelino
• Processing method: Honey
• Varietal: Amarangia (Yellow & Orange) 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

Tasting notes: Orange, honeycomb, lime zest.

Cup of Excellence Cupping Scores

• Clean cup: (1–8): 6.5
• Sweetness: (1–8): 6.5
• Acidity: (1–8): 6.5
• Mouthfeel: (1–8): 6
• Flavour: (1–8): 6.5
• Aftertaste: (1–8): 6
• Balance: (1–8): 6.5
• Overall: (1–8): 6.5
• Correction: (+36): +36
• Total: (max. 100): 87

Roast Information
Medium - Push this one through first, keeping a steady pace as you finish the roast just on the cusp of second crack.