We’re so excited to finally be able to release this amazing coffee from El Salvador’s microlot from Finca Plan del Hoyo, owned by Francisco De Sola. This is a coffee we’ve been eagerly anticipating for quite some time, and it’s finally ready to land on our shelves (and our V60 bar!).
The cup
☕ Tasting Notes: Clove and cooked coffee cherry flavors with tart acidity and mild fruit-like sweetness.
📍 Origin: Finca Plan del Hoyo
🧼 Process: Washed
🌱 Altitude: 1760 masl.
🌾 Varietal: Anacafé 14
=> Grab a bag here <=
or pop into one of our Cardiff shops to pick one up off the shelf
The cup is very fun and layered - you can expect warming notes of clove, hints of cooked coffee cherry, a tart, lively acidity, and a gentle, fruit-like sweetness that ties everything together. It’s the kind of profile that feels both exciting and comforting and we’re super excited to be able to finally share it.
About the Farm & Microlot
The Finca Plan del Hoyo farm spans 100 hectares, around 14 hectares of that dedicated to coffee (roughly 60,000 trees). The rest of the land is used for timber cultivation, reflecting a diversified and sustainable approach to farming.
Harvest season typically runs from January till March. Cherries are picked at peak ripeness, then processed depending on the intended profile: washed lots are mechanically de-mucilaged, while naturally processed cherries are dried whole on raised beds. (This lot is washed.)
This lot is part of a broader microlot program that supports both established estates and smaller producers across El Salvador. These smaller farms (between 3.5 and 10.5 hectares) grow classic Salvadorean varieties like Pacas, Pacamara, and Bourbon. In this case, however, we have the Anacafé 14, a relatively recent addition to the world of Arabica coffee, officially released in 2014. It’s a natural cross between Pacamara and a Catimor-type variety, first discovered in Guatemala’s Chiquimula region.
=> Grab a bag here <=
or pop into one of our Cardiff shops to pick one up off the shelf
El Salvador & Coffee: A Brief History
Often called “the land of volcanoes,” El Salvador may be the smallest country in Central America, but its coffee legacy is anything but small. Coffee cultivation in El Salvador began in the 18th century and grew into a cornerstone of the country’s economy by the late 1800s.
By the 1970s, coffee exports made up around half of the country’s GDP. However, political instability and civil war in the following decades disrupted production, leading to abandoned farms and a decline in output. It wasn’t until the 1990s, after peace was restored, that the industry began to recover again.
A major turning point came in 2003 with the introduction of the Cup of Excellence competition, which helped spotlight the country’s exceptional varieties and reignite global interest. Today, El Salvadorean producers continue to rebuild and innovate, even as they face challenges like coffee leaf rust and reduced yields. Many remain committed to preserving heirloom varieties, balancing tradition with resilience.
Sourcing THIS Coffee
Our suppliers, Café Imports, have played a key role in bringing this coffee to us. Their buyer, Piero Cristiani, who has deep personal and professional ties to El Salvador, works closely with producers throughout the year to ensure quality and consistency.
The Varietal: Anacafé 14
Anacafé 14 is a relatively recent addition to the world of Arabica coffee, officially released in 2014. It’s a natural cross between Pacamara and a Catimor-type variety, first discovered in Guatemala’s Chiquimula region. It thrives at higher altitudes (above 1,300 meters), making it well-suited to the growing conditions at Finca Plan del Hoyo.
What makes Anacafé 14 particularly exciting is its balance of resilience and quality. It’s known for being high-yielding and resistant to coffee leaf rust, while still producing large, dense beans with excellent cup potential. Flavour-wise, it often leans toward citrus, chocolate, and dried fruit with a hint of spiciness.
=> Grab a bag here <=
or pop into one of our Cardiff shops to pick one up off the shelf
We’ll be serving this coffee as a V60 in both our Cardiff shops for the next two weeks. So if you're around Cardiff and fancy trying this fun coffee before buying, now is the time!
