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Overview

Los Pirineos is located at 1480 meters above sea level, on top of the Tecapa Volcano, a volcanic mountain range in the Department of Usulutan. The name of Los Pirineos was given because of the similarity to the mountains of the Pyrenees in Europe, which separates France and Spain. The farm Los Pirineos also separates two towns, Berlin and Santiago de Maria. The cultivation of the coffee farm started in 1890 according to some accounts of the family, the original Typical plants and shade trees called Gravileos were imported from Antigua Guatemala . The farm has been owned by the family for over 100 years and it has always been cultured under traditional shade. Currently 10% of the plantation belongs to the Typica variety, 83% is Bourbón, 4% Pacas and 3% of Pacamara. Los Pirineos farm is Rainforest Alliance certified, the first farm in El Salvador obtaining this certification. This farm also holds a high score on one of Starbucks preference programs. Los Pirineos, has always been recognized by exporters, buyers and national and international cuppers as producer of one of the best coffees from the east side of the country. Most of the current production is sold to the Asian Gourmet Market. In the year 2007, Los Pirineos got 10th place globally, at the Rainforest Alliance coffee competition, in Long Beach, California, with a score of 86.33, above the average of the country participating farms, and also above the average of 5 more origin countries. This coffee is processed at the wet mill on the farm, slowly sun dried until just before reaching the final stage when it is placed in a “Guardiola” mechanical dryer to fine tune the right humidity level. The awarded coffee is a Pacamara variety. The original seeds planted were from the early selections released in the country in the beginning of the 90’s. The characteristics of this coffee in particular can be described as exotic and unique. At the prevailing altitude it is very difficult to have enough coffee ripen before March, as the Pacamara is slow ripening. Once perfectly ripe these coffees boast tremendous sweetness and chocolate flavors. One of the factors behind producing an exemplary class coffee is the fact that the seeds used to establish the nurseries come from selected beans from the same farm. In addition, this farm enjoys ideal climatic conditions, such as altitude, temperature, rainfall, and great volcanic soil. A wide range of Flora and Fauna is found within the farm, where endangered species such as deer seek refuge, this is due to environmentally sensitive cultural practices followed. Los Pirineos employs more than 30 people on a permanent basis, whom receive a salary higher than that established by minimum wage law. The current manager Mr. Luis Gutierrez grew up in the farm, and is the son of the former manager who worked with the family for over 50 years. Part of the profits from the coffee sales, are going to be used to equip the farm with computers for students from the Cerro Verde school, which is going to be located near the farm very soon.