Finca El Ángel is the sixth and latest addition to the Silva family’s operation, purchased in December 2022. Prior to the family’s stewardship, El Ángel was owned by the Mathies family, who established the farm in 2018 and processed their coffees at the Silva family’s mill in Apeneca. After tasting the results of the first harvest in late 2021, Rafael Jr. and the Mathies family came to an agreement to sell the farm to the Silvas. Located high up on the Santa Ana volcano, El Ángel is exclusively planted with coffee, growing five distinct varieties: Red and Orange Bourbon, Pacamara, SL-28, and Geisha.
Today, El Ángel sits at a transition point as Rafa begins to renovate and make changes to the original vision for the farm, while maintaining enough production to make it a viable business year after year. It’s a process that can be frustratingly slow, but once complete, Rafa believes he’ll have one of the best farms in the country—a belief that may already be proving true, as Rafa placed 2nd in the Natural category in the 2024 El Salvador Cup of Excellence competition with a naturally processed SL-28 from El Ángel. SL-28 originates from Kenya and is known for its pronounced sweetness and acidity. This lot was traditionally washed, a process that emphasizes the variety’s unique juicy acidity.
