Unroasted - El Salvador Natural SHG EP

About the bean 

Nestled at the base of the Ilamatepec, Santa Ana’s towering volcano, Finca La Reforma encompasses 30 hectares of mineral-rich volcanic soil under the care of the Alvarez family. The family’s legacy dates all the way back to 1892 when Colombian immigrant Rafael Alvarez Lalinde brought ancestral coffee seedlings to El Salvador’s fertile Apaneca-Ilamatepec region and established the family’s original farm on the slopes of Santa Ana. Today, his descendants steward two estates—Finca La Reforma and Finca Santa Maria—alongside the family-owned El Borbollón Mill, the latter represents a rarity in El Salvador where most farms rely on external processors.

Employing the “shadow tree” technique, Finca La Reforma nurtures coffee under a canopy of native trees. This bio-friendly approach enhances soil health, shields plants from pests, and creates a haven for wildlife. Specializing in the prized red Bourbon variety, La Reforma also pioneers experimental plots of yellow Bourbon, orange Bourbon, and exclusive lots of Kenyan SL28, pushing the boundaries of flavour complexity.

From December to March, skilled harvesters handpick cherries into traditional woven baskets. At the family mill, cherries are floated to remove defects, then sun-dried on raised beds and clay patios—a regional tradition. The superior heat retention of clay ensures slow, even drying, enhancing cup clarity and sweetness. The beans are then meticulously processed to eliminate mucilage, which preserves their vibrant profile.

QUICK NOTES

FARM: La Reforma
REGION: Apaneca Ilamatepec Mountain Range
ALTITUDE: 1,450 masl.
PROCESS: Natural
DRYING: Sun Dried
VARIETAL: Red Bourbon
CUPPING SCORE: 88 points (specialty grade and an unusually high score)

Red Fruit. Cacao. Sweet Spice. Roasted Almond. Lilac.

Roasting recommendation: Medium. 

SHG: Strictly High Grown. Usually denser and higher quality than a Hard Bean (HB) or High Grown (HG). These beans are grown above 1,200 masl. (metres above sea level).

EP: European Prep. Indicates the coffee has undergone rigorous sorting - usually by hand to ensure defective beans and foreign material have been removed.