El Salvador: San Jose, Red Bourbon

Gloria Rodríguez is a name you might recognize if you've been with us for a while. She's a fourth-generation coffee grower who, with the support of her siblings, oversees six farms in the Apaneca-Ilamatepec mountain range, totaling thirty-eight hectares: San José, Mamatita, El Porvenir, Nejapa, Nueva Granada, and La Lagunita. Gloria has broken gender barriers in an industry traditionally dominated by men, personally supervising every step at the farm level.

Finca San José has a rich history, beginning in 1815 when Gloria's great-grandparents, José María Rodriguez and Josefina Rodriguez, planted the first coffee trees. The farm has since been passed down through generations, from José's son, Israel Rodriguez, to Jose Maria Rodriguez, and finally to Gloria.

The mountain slopes of Finca San José, at an average altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level, are fully shaded by trees that help preserve the crop and environment. The farm is home to diverse wildlife and is located on the northwestern slope of an extinct volcanic crater, featuring a unique microclimate with an average temperature of 17°C and rich, loamy clay soil ideal for specialty coffee production. The farm primarily produces Red Bourbon, with smaller amounts of orange and yellow Bourbon, as well as Elefante. The crater also contains a small lagoon, "Laguna de Las Ninfas," known for its abundance of water lilies.

San José is Gloria’s favourite farm. Until recently, all the plants were planted by her father. As the plants age and productivity declines, she has begun replanting, though it saddens her to remove the trees her father planted. Currently, about a third of the plants are new, while two-thirds are around 60 years old.

Originally bought by Gloria’s grandfather, the farm was once large but was divided among Gloria’s father and his three brothers. Her father later bought back land from one brother, recombining it into the San José we know today, which is still relatively small by El Salvador standards at around 10 hectares.

This is all milk chocolate up front, with just a little biscuit and some marshmallow in there too...chocolate teacake in a cup? Yes, please.

• 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

Tasting notes: Milk chocolate, biscuit, marshmallow.

Cup of Excellence Cupping Scores

• Clean cup: (1–8): 6
• Sweetness: (1–8): 6.5
• Acidity: (1–8): 6
• 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): 86

Roast Information
Medium dark: this one is quite forgiving, but will be best just on the edge of second and at a medium pace.