Washed Pacamara Coffee from El Salvador’s Finca Ataisi

If you’ve ever wondered what gives some Salvadoran coffees such a rich, balanced profile with surprising tropical brightness, the answer often lies in both altitude and processing. One standout example comes from Finca Ataisi, a farm pushing the potential of the Pacamara variety grown at extreme heights in the country’s volcanic highlands.

Finca Ataisi’s washed Pacamara coffee is grown at 1800 meters above sea level, harvested in January, and processed using traditional washed fermentation followed by sun drying—resulting in a cup with notes of nutty chocolate, passion fruit, strawberry, and cream.

Where Is Finca Ataisi and Why Does Altitude Matter?

Finca Ataisi is located in the Izalco region of Sonsonate Province, western El Salvador. Though one of the smallest countries in Central America, El Salvador has a striking concentration of volcanoes—more than any other country in the region—which contributes to its nutrient-rich, high-altitude soils. The country’s average elevation and volcanic terrain create ideal conditions for coffee cultivation, especially at elevations above 1200 meters, where cooler temperatures slow cherry maturation and develop more complex sugars.

What Makes This Coffee SHG Grade?

This particular coffee is classified as SHG, or Strictly High Grown, meaning it was cultivated at over 1200 meters. In El Salvador’s official coffee grading system:

• SHG (Strictly High Grown): above 1200m
• HG (High Grown): above 900m
• CS (Central Standard): above 600m

The higher the altitude, the denser the beans tend to be, and the more pronounced and refined the flavours become. SHG coffees like this Pacamara are known for their bright acidity, clean cup, and complex sweetness.

How Is This Coffee Processed?

The Finca Ataisi Washed Pacamara undergoes a classic washed process: after harvesting in January, the coffee cherries are floated to remove underripe or damaged fruit, then depulped to remove the skin. The sticky mucilage is broken down through controlled fermentation in water, before being thoroughly washed and spread out to dry in the sun. This method tends to produce a cleaner, brighter cup with accentuated acidity and distinct varietal characteristics, while reducing overall sugar content compared to natural processed coffees.

Why Choose the Pacamara Variety?

Pacamara is a hybrid coffee variety, a cross between Pacas and Maragogype, known for its large bean size and complex flavour potential. It often expresses fruitiness, floral notes, and a heavier body, especially when grown at high altitudes. At 1800m on Finca Ataisi, this Pacamara exhibits a layered profile: think nutty chocolate base with bright toppings of passion fruit and strawberry, rounded out by creamy and sweet undertones.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Finca Ataisi and where is it located?

Finca Ataisi is a coffee farm in the Izalco region of Sonsonate Province, western El Salvador. It lies within a volcanic highland area that benefits from rich soils and high altitudes, ideal for growing specialty-grade coffee.

What altitude is Finca Ataisi coffee grown at?

The coffee is cultivated at 1800 meters above sea level, placing it in the SHG (Strictly High Grown) category—a classification for coffees grown at elevations over 1200m, known for greater density and complexity.

How is the coffee processed?

Finca Ataisi processes its coffee using the washed method: cherries are fermented in water to remove the mucilage, then washed and sun dried. This enhances clarity, acidity, and cleanliness in the cup.

What coffee variety is used?

The coffee is made from the Pacamara variety, a hybrid of Pacas and Maragogype. It is prized for its large beans and potential for complex fruit and chocolate flavours, especially at high altitudes.

When is the coffee harvested?

The harvest takes place in January, typical for high-altitude farms in El Salvador’s primary coffee-growing regions.

What flavours can I expect from this coffee?

Expect a cup with notes of nutty chocolate, passion fruit, strawberry, and cream—offering both bright acidity and a smooth, sweet finish.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Washed Pacamara Fans

Try FrontStreet Coffee’s Kenya Little Tomato for another high-acidity, fruit-forward experience with bold sweetness and juicy complexity. For a washed-process classic, their Yirgacheffe offering highlights bright citrus and floral tones with exceptional clarity. Both showcase the kind of vibrancy and balance you’d expect from high-grown, carefully processed beans like Finca Ataisi’s Pacamara. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.