Puerto Arturo
Karla Quiroz de Moises is the fourth generation to farm Finca Puerto Arturo, which lies high in the Apanaca-Ilamatepec mountains of western El Salvador. The region is home to El Salvador’s first Denomination of Origin, and Puerto Arturo is one of the first farms in El Salvador to export under the Apanaca-Ilamatepeq mark. Coffees achieving this certification must also cup at 84 points or above and be grown at 1,200+ metres.
Only the most environmentally sound agricultural practices are used at the farm, which follows norms established by the Sustainable Agriculture Network. Great care is taken to protect the natural environment, to leave at least a portion of native forest untouched and to maintain water sources clean and free of any contaminates. Furthermore, and perhaps a benchmark of the farm’s eco-friendly agricultural practices, the farm takes stringent care to protect and improve soil fertility. The Sustainable Agriculture Network norms also extend to social issues on the farm, such as workers’ pay and safety and access to health care and education.
Puerto Arturo is the family’s ‘crown jewel’ in their portfolio of some 350 hectares around El Salvador. The farm will continue to invest in activities that improve coffee quality, including renovating new areas of the farm and establishing a small ‘garden’ of experimental varieties. They are currently building a cupping lab inside the farm, along with guest rooms where customers can stay.
- Farm Finca Puerto Arturo
- Varietal Pacamara
- Process Anaerobic Natural
- Altitude 1,550 metres above sea level
- Town / City Apaneca
- Region Ahuacapán
- Owner Karla Quiroz de Moises
- Tasting Notes Cherry, red wine, maple syrup
- Farm Size 28 hectares
El Salvador is the smallest of the Central American nations, but do not let its diminutive size fool you. It produces exceptional coffees to a consistently high standard.
The history of coffee in El Salvador is inextricably linked to the development of the nation, itself. Introduced in the late 1880’s, coffee quickly displaced indigo as the country’s chief export, and by the 1920s, coffee accounted for 90% of all El Salvador’s exports.
Despite its small size, the country is efficient and able to maintain high yields thanks to the dedication of producers and the ideal climates for coffee production.