Coffee review

El Salvador coffee history introduction El Salvador coffee six major producing areas and coffee classification system

Published: 2025-08-21 Author: World Gafei
Last Updated: 2025/08/21, El Salvador, known as the home of volcanoes, is the smallest country in Central America (roughly the same size as New Jersey). Coffee was grown after independence from Nicaragua in the mid-19th century and quickly became a popular cash crop. Active volcanic activity brings mineral-rich volcanic ash to the country, mainly volcanic ash in the soil composition

Introduction to El Salvador

El Salvador, known as the "hometown of volcanoes", is the smallest country in Central America (roughly the same size as New Jersey). In the mid-19th century, coffee was grown after independence from Nicaragua and soon became a popular cash crop. Active volcanic activity brings mineral-rich volcanic ash to the country. The soil, which is mainly composed of volcanic ash, has more minerals and less organic matter. Therefore, in order to maintain the geographical position and make up for the shortage of organic matter, Samaritan farmers will use the pulp residue of the treated coffee beans or the organic matter under the coffee trees as fertilizers to make up for the lack of organic matter in the soil, so that the planting of coffee trees can produce coffee beans with harmonious taste. The country's most meaningful initiative is to introduce organic agriculture to the world, cultivating more than 150000 tons of organic coffee every year.

Six major coffee producing areas in El Salvador

The six major coffee producing areas of El Salvador: Apaneca Apaneca, Alotepec-Metapan, Central Belt in central Scotland, Chichontepec in Chinjontepec, Tecapa & Cacahuatique Mountain Rang in Tecapa), are generally divided into alpine slopes or plateau areas covered with volcanic ash at an altitude of 1200 meters above sea level, with coffee harvest and harvest season from November to April of the following year. As coffee prefers a mild climate, coffee trees are mainly planted in the shade of tall trees (shade grown coffee) in order to avoid excessive temperature and direct sun exposure, affecting the quality of coffee beans. The coffee beans produced by it belong to Arabica species, mainly from Pacas and Bourbon brands, and belong to big beans with sweet taste and excellent flavor.

Salvadoran coffee grading system

Coffee is graded according to the altitude of its growth, which has nothing to do with its quality:

■ Strictly High Grown (SHG): over 1200 m above sea level

■ High Grown (HG): over 900m above sea level

■ Central Standard over 600m above sea level

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