Overview

Juan Carlos is the face of a new generation of coffee growers that have chosen to continue a family tradition. Part of a family that has grown coffee for over 70 years, at the age of 24, Juan Carlos dedicated himself to the care of a 14 hectare farm which he had inherited from his Grandfather, Mr. Pedro Meza. His passion to succeed in the coffee world drove him to buy Shangrila three years ago.

With eagerness and passion, he immersed himself in the upkeep of Shangrila. In constant search of quality, Juan Carlos has entered the Cup of Excellence for the past two years, improving his results with each subsequent sample until finally winning this year. The win was in part thanks to the 8 workers and their families that make their homes on the beautiful mountain slopes of Shangrila. The crop is shade grown and the land supports a variety of wild animals and birds.

His unfading search for quality has ensured that each harvest is cared for with special attention to detail and the cherries are taken to the mill only when they are at the peak of their ripeness. Shangrila, in addition to producing quality coffee, also makes an effort to help improve the lives of the workers and their families.

As a Cup of Excellence winner, Juan Carlos looks toward the future and hopes one day to be able to sit in a coffee shop somewhere across the world and find his coffee behind the counter alongside the best coffees of El Salvador.

Other Statistics:
Coffee varieties: Bourbón
Type of Shade: Pepeto and other native trees
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,500 mm
Average Temperature: 18º C
Type of Soil: Clay loam
Annual Production: (60kg) 100 bags
Mill and company where lot was process: Beneficio Tres Ríos, Exportadora El Volcán S.A. de C.V.
Fauna: Opussum, squirrels, Rabbit, etc.

GPS Coordinates:
Latitude: N 13º 53’ 51.4’’
Longitude: W 89º 46’ 35.9’’