Irene del Socorro Sosa - Finca Talquesalar, El Salvador

This exceptional microlot comes from Finca Talquesalar, owned by Irene del Socorro Sosa in the cool highlands of Chalatenango, El Salvador. Sitting at 1400 MASL and home to around 4,500 coffee trees, the farm grows Gesha and Pacamara alongside citrus trees that contribute to the vibrant ecosystem of the land. Despite facing challenges such as labour shortages during harvest and unpredictable weather, Irene continues to produce coffees of remarkable clarity and character.

In the cup, this Pacamara Honey delivers layers of fresh apple and mellow dried apple, gently woven with delicate spice notes. The acidity is bright and sparkling, yet beautifully balanced by a fruit-like sweetness that carries through the finish. It’s a coffee that feels lively and expressive, yet refined — showcasing both the distinctive Pacamara variety and the meticulous care behind its production.

The honey process plays a key role in shaping this profile. Ripe cherries are carefully handpicked, depulped on the day of harvest, and dried slowly on raised African beds for 18–27 days in their remaining mucilage. This extended drying time enhances sweetness and texture while preserving the coffee’s crisp, fruit-forward structure. The result is a cup with clarity, vibrancy, and a rounded mouthfeel.

Pacamara itself — a cross between Pacas and Maragogype developed by El Salvador’s national coffee research institute — is known for its large bean size and bold, complex flavour potential. In Chalatenango, the country’s coolest and northern-most growing region, this variety has gained international recognition for its elegance and depth. The region’s rich volcanic soils and high elevations create ideal conditions for developing structured acidity and layered sweetness.

This microlot represents the strength of El Salvador’s smallholder producers, who continue to preserve heirloom varieties and traditional farming methods while refining processing techniques year after year. Carefully sourced and separated by variety and process, this coffee is a true reflection of place, producer, and craftsmanship — a bright and expressive showcase of modern Salvadoran specialty coffee.