Overview

Finca El Carmen was acquired in 1970, but the Duch family has been in the coffee growing business since 1944.

As part of the special treatment done in the farm preparing the winning lot for this year COE competition was the picking of only the best cherries and immediate transportation for processing at the mill, reducing any risks of fermentation.

Juan was confident that El Carmen had enough potential to qualify in the Cup of Excellence. The microclimate is exceptional and it neighbors with La Fatima, another family farm and 4th place winner in 2004 and 16th place this year.

They decided to pay a little extra to pickers as an incentive for their additional effort in doing a perfect task. Juan believes this had a lot to do with the final results, since more attention and time was placed in choosing this coffee and of course, he doesn’t rule out the great environmental conditions in the farm.

The shade canopy is made up mainly of Ingas, cypress, cedars, mahogany and other native trees. With an average density of 60 trees per manzana, a great diversity of fauna coexists with coffee, such as squirrels, snakes, armadillos, possums, orioles among others.

Other Statistics

Average Annual Rainfall: 3,000 mm
Average Temperature: 18-20 ºC
Type of Soil: Sandy Loam
Type of Shade: Mainly Ingas, cypress, cedars, mahogany, among other
Annual Production: bags (60kg)
Mill and company where lot was process: Cooperativa Cuzcachapa

Latitude: N 13º 520 43.5" Longitude: W 89º 37' 11.5"