El Salvador SHG EP - Finca Malacara (2016 Crop)

This is an SHG EP grade coffee from Finca Malacara in the Santa Ana region of El Salvador. Finca Malacara has been owned and managed by the Alvarez Lopez family since 1889, and is subdivided into three separate farms, Malacara A, B, and C. This particular lot hails from farm C, which is planted with 85% Bourbon and Pacamara, 14% Catimor and 1% Cuzcatleco on a clay-loam soil. Harvesting usually takes place between January and March, while flowering goes from April through May. The shade canopy is mainly made up of mountain trees such as cedar, walnut, macadamia, gravileo and avocado, among others. On its 103.6 acres today, the average age of coffee trees is 30 years, with densities of 3,500 trees per hectare and yielding some 28 quintals per hectare. Elevation for this lot ranges from 1300 - 1700 masl. The Alvarez farms provide permanent workers with a good home, food, a health clinic, a school for children, and leisure activities such as soccer. These services are extended to seasonal workers during the busy harvest period, as well as to visiting coffee pickers and their families.