Our videocast: In My Mug
Episodes
Sunday Sep 14, 2014
Sunday Sep 14, 2014
The farm was initially acquired by Harry Adams Butter, the grandfather of Johanna, the current owner. Harry came to El Salvador from Dundee, Scotland, at the end of the 1800s. At the beginning of the 1900s he decided to move his home to Berlin (a town in El Salvador, not the German one). He saw an opportunity and decided to buy this farm, which is currently managed by the family's third generation.
This is quite a different area to where most of our El Salvador coffees come from, and it's great to find a coffee we like so much from this area.
When translated, the farm's name means “Scotland”, named after Harry's homeland. The initial16 acres of inheritance have been increased to 180 acres. Not all of the additional acreage has been exclusively planted with coffee; the varieties planted are mainly Bourbon and Kenya. Lately Pacas and Cuzcatleco have also been planted.
The rest of the property has been left as it was originally; a nice forest, in order to protect the local flora and fauna, as well as the two fountain heads. There are native species of trees in the process of becoming extinct, but more are being planted every year.
This is the first time in a long time that we have exclusively bought a Cup of Excellence lot, and it's been even longer since we have participated in the El Salvador auction. We have many special relationships and amazing coffees in our arsenal, but this one pushed some tastebud-buttons as no coffee has for a while (I also left Roland in charge of bidding and he got auction fever).
In the cup this is sweet and smooth, creamy and milk chocolate-y: all the things you expect from a great El Salvador coffee. Then it hits you. You're tasting tropical fruits, papaya, and this exciting and delicious acidity that goes on an on. A truly excellent coffee.
- Farm: Escocia
- Farmer: Caledonia S.A
- City: Berlin
- Region: Usulutan
- Country: El Salvador
- Farm size: 65 hectares
- Coffee growing area: 46 hectares
- Altitude: 1,200 m.a.s.l.
- Variety: SL-28
- Processing system: Washed