Episode 729


Finca Argentina is separated into 7 areas or 'tablons', these are approximately 6 hectares in size each, but some are smaller due to their location and other landscape characteristics:

  • The highest tablon is San Jorge at 1,300-1,360 masl. This is 2 hectares in size and was replanted with Yellow Pacamara 4 years ago.
  • Fincona 2 is the most productive tablon at a size of 8 hectares, sitting at between 1,250-1,300 masl.
  • Fincona 1 is 4 hectares, sat at 1,200-1,250masl. The coffee plants here are intercropped with macadamia nut trees which are in the process of being replanted in 2020.
  • Guachipelin is 6 hectares in size, and in 2016 was replanted with H1, Yellow Bourbon, Icatu and a small amount of Kenya/SL-28.
  • Los Mangos (where this coffee is from), also 6 hectares, is the location of a volcanic vent with boiling mud areas!
  • Piletas is 6 hectares large and is also being replanted in 2020. This is the lowest area of the farm at about 1,150 to 1,200 masl.
  • 4 Manzanas (3 hectares in size) were replanted in 2018 with Portillo (a Bourbon hybrid).

Los Mangos is in a slightly higher region of the farm and produces consistently good quality coffee. With hot steam vents in this region of the farm, the slightly different soil seems to have a subtle impact on the coffee, with it generally scoring slightly higher in blind tasting than Bourbon from the other sections.

A creamy body enhances a sweetness of marzipan and milk chocolate for a sweet, silky cup. Delicate white grape notes lift this and add complexity and depth to this elegant coffee.

  • Country: El Salvador
  • District: Ahuachapán
  • Municipality: Ahuachapán
  • Nearest city: Turin
  • Farm: Finca Argentina
  • Tablon: Los Mangos
  • Producer: Alejandro Martinez
  • Elevation: 1,300 m.a.s.l.
  • Variety: Bourbon
  • Processing method: Natural

Cupping Notes

Marzipan, milk chocolate, white grape

  • Clean cup: (1–8): 6.5
  • Sweetness: (1–8): 6.5
  • Acidity: (1–8): 6
  • Mouthfeel: (1–8): 6.5
  • Flavour: (1–8): 6.5
  • Aftertaste: (1–8): 6
  • Balance: (1–8): 6.5
  • Overall: (1–8): 6.5
  • Correction: (+36): +36
  • Total: (max. 100): 86.5

Roasting Information
Medium-dark - through first and pushing through the gap to the edge of second. Make sure this gets enough development time, as it's easy to get thrown by the crack.


Finca Argentina

The coffee comes from the Los Mangos tablon of the farm and that name means (as you probably guessed!) the "Mangoes", and is named after the mango trees planted there. It's about 10 manzanas (hectares) of land and most of the tablon is on a gentle slope.

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