El Salvador – Finca Las Mercedes – Kenia Honey

Origin: El Salvador
Region: San Salvador Volcan
Estate: Finca Las Mercedes
Varieties: Kenia
Grade: SHG – SCR15up
Certification: RFA
Processing: Honey Processed

Harvest: 2023
Altitude: 1350 – 1700 masl
Tasting Notes: Red apple, chocolate, hazelnut, stewed fruits

Small Batch Roasting: Roast For You Service – Terms & Conditions

Introduction

Small Batch Roasting now offers a service that offers personalised coffee roasting for customers who want to enjoy freshly roasted coffee tailored to their preferences.

Roast For You Service

When you choose to have your coffee roasted for you, we will roast the exact amount ordered and roast this for you to the selected roast profile you have chosen. Our small batch roasting process ensures that your coffee is roasted with care and precision, resulting in a high-quality, freshly roasted product.

Minimum Green Weight Requirement

Please be advised that the minimum green weight for roasting any one single origin is 6kg. Any orders placed with less than 6kg of each origin will be placed on hold and may cause delays in being dispatched. We will contact you to discuss how you wish to proceed in this case.

Weight Loss During Roasting

Please be mindful of the weight loss through moisture loss during roasting, which is typically between 12-20% depending on the level of roast. The darker the roast, the higher the moisture loss. This weight loss should be taken into account when ordering your coffee to ensure you receive the desired amount of roasted coffee.

Order Processing Time

Orders for roasted coffees will naturally take a little longer to process. Please allow a minimum of 3 days for your order to arrive from the point of order. If we are able to drop your order in the roasting schedule sooner, we will always endeavor to do so.

Mixed Orders

Mixed orders which include green and roasted coffees will be dispatched together when the roasted coffees are ready. We are unable to split these orders, so please consider the slightly longer delivery times when ordering mixed coffees.

Packaging

Your coffee will be bulk packed into a 6kg bulk bag with an identifying label on only. This packaging ensures that your coffee remains fresh and protected during transit.

Roast Profile and Liability

We will roast to your desired roast profile, but are unable to take any liability for any taste discrepancies that may arise from this. We are unable to take back any coffees once they have been roasted to your desired roast profile.

Yield Estimate

Typically, a medium roast coffee at 6kg green will yield 5.1kg of freshly roasted coffee. This estimate should be taken into account when ordering your coffee to ensure you receive the desired amount of roasted coffee.

About This Coffee

For six generations, the Aguilar family has cultivated coffee on the lush, shade-covered slopes of the San Salvador Volcano, offering breathtaking views over El Salvador’s capital. Their estate spans nearly 160 hectares, sitting at elevations between 1,250 and 1,700 meters—remarkably high for the country—creating ideal conditions for producing exceptional coffee.

This honey-processed microlot is a single-varietal separation from a special plot of ‘Kenia’, a Salvadoran mutation of the SL Bourbon varieties originally developed by Scott Laboratories in Kenya.

The Art of Production

The Las Mercedes honey process is a carefully managed approach that begins long before harvesting. Brix readings are taken to measure the sugar content of the cherries, which are only picked when they reach a minimum level of 24, sometimes as high as 28-29, indicating peak ripeness. These cherries turn a deep red-purple color before being de-pulped, with a high amount of mucilage left intact.

Drying takes place on raised beds for 22 days, using a unique combination of sun and shade—a method innovated by Fernando Aguilar, called ‘Sol-Sombra’ drying. This controlled approach enhances the coffee’s sweetness, complexity, and distinctive flavor profile, making it a true standout from El Salvador.