On June 29, 2011, the online auction for El Salvador Cup of Excellence winners took place. We were in a small buying group of roasters who successfully won the bid for Los Planes Bourbon. The international jury scored this coffee over 90, a Presidential award winner! Sergio Ticas Reyes, owner of Los Planes, inherited the farm from his grandfather. Originally Los Planes, which is over 170 acres, was only planted with Typica; this cultivar remained until 1996, when his Sergio renovated the farm, planting both Bourbon and Pacamara varieties. Sergio Ticas is a well-known coffee producer from the Chalatenango department with his Finca Los Planes and both of the varietals he grows. Coffee growing and processing in the area has become much more fastididious, which he attributes to the annual Cup of Excellence competition. The coffee lot coming from Los Planes is of the Bourbon varietal , grown at over 5100 feet above sea-level. Cherries were processed in his wet mill and underwent meticulous preparation protocol, including fresh and clean water from natural springs, milling and sun drying on patios. Sergio claims he is learning something new every year through his participation in the CoE. Coffee plantations in “Los Planes” are relatively young since he keeps replanting and replacing old trees. When Sergio started working the farm, he obtained vegetative materials and technical assistance from PROCAFE (Salvadoran coffee research agency), but now he uses his own nurseries. The treatment of his farm has been very traditional with shade pruning, weed control and minimal fertilizer usage. About 70 people are employed during harvesting and 10 work permanently on the farm. We have offered Sergio's Los Planes Pacamara over the course of several years but this is the first time we have the Bourbon. The Pacamara was a previous CoE #2 winner in 2006 and also a Presidential award recipient. Sergio's coffee seems always represented among the country's best. Los Planes Pacamara is concurrently on our site but quantities are very limited. While possible, buy some of each for comparison of varietals grown on the same farm. Sergio is very socially active within the community and is very involved with education and the funding of a local school project. He donated land to the community for the construction of a water tank. For Sergio, his workers are key, so he wants them to be happy with their jobs, he has increased wages and lends land to workers for cash crops, helping them to keep more income for other activities. He keeps a cypress forest from which he provides firewood for his workers. Cupping Notes: Citrus and crisp apple acidity; Notes of vanilla, melon. Very clean and sweet, fruity and juicy. Smooth, mellow body with hints of dark chocolate. Aroma/Flavor: vanilla, butter, caramel, lemon, orange, cinnamon, honeysuckle, melon, berry, orange, peach, red apple acidity, peach, papaya, mango, tartaric, red grape, citric. Other: round mouthfeel, lingering sweet/fruit in aftertaste. Roasting Notes: Keep the coffee on the lighter side as this one has delicate flavors that would best be appreciated at a City or City+ level in our opinion. Body will increase and acidity will diminish as you move a little darker toward second crack.  Sergio Reyes (right), owner of Los Planes
with Barry in El Salvador May 2010 |
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