On our most recent visit to El Salvador, something truly special stood out during one of many cupping sessions with the Silva family. At Si Cafe, the Silva family are more than just coffee producers. In addition to processing their own coffees at their mill, they also process and sell coffees on behalf of other local producers, leveraging their relationships and connections to give small producers access to international buyers and better prices. This coffee from Hector Armando Hernandez is an example of the Silva family helping to build relationships with others.
Don Hector’s farm, La Montañita, is in the Chalatenango region on the northern side of the country, close to the border with Honduras. Unlike other regions in El Salvador, it is very hot and dry during the day, but with altitudes exceeding 1,900 masl, the temperature drops significantly overnight, often nearing freezing. This large fluctuation in temperature causes significant stress on the coffee trees, which—somewhat counterintuitively—enhances the quality of the coffee, creating a unique cup profile.
