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A few more photos to go with yesterdays post (thanks Joe)

Limoncillo is a farm we bought from last year in the cup of excellence. Despite its lowly 27th place in the auction I thought it was a mind blowing sample. When we bought it I looked at the producer name and thought no more about it. It was only once we had won the lot that I received an email asking if I knew I’d bought a friend of mines coffee at the auction. That friend is Ewrin who I met on my very first trip to origin, back in 2005. Erwin and his brother Stephen were really good to me looked after me and kept in touch afterwards. Our paths have crossed a few times since then and its always met with a warm hugs and a few beers.

So its a great coffee and has good people to buy it from. When I saw this one on the itinerary I was very excited about visiting it, but nothing prepared me for the size of it. Its a huge estate and a big mill too.

We started with a trip to the mill and here we got a chance to cup some new crop Limoncillo and the second place coe lot. This year Erwin went quite a few places better by finishing 2nd on the COE competition with an experimental lot of seed from Java. We also got to try some other coffees that were really good quality and showed lots of promise.

From here we went to spend some time at Erwins house where I got to meet his Farther (who owns the set up), and sat by the pool eating mangos from the tree in the garden (and they were lovely). A very nice way to spend lunch. But it was all back onto the bus to go to the farm. But not for too we had to swap to the 4 x 4 cars as the terrain got too much.

I’ve leant that these cars really do get used to there maximum and it makes me laugh about the “chelsea tractors” back home.

A “short drive” (I’ve found in Nicaragua that a short drive can be anywhere between 1 and 4 hours) we arrive at the farm.

As you can see from the photos its a very beautiful farm ad perfectly maintained. Then a big truck arrives that takes us around the farm. On the farm they have been trying to use things around them to look after the environment. the latest one has been to install a hydro electric pump to create some electricity for the farm workers. Enough for some lights and a TV (which they have never had here) and some warm water. I think its a great way of letting the land work for you.

We then went tracking up a huge hill to see the wonderful sights yo see below. It was amazing and very special to be right amongst the trees and in the thick of it.

Then the best bit until last, they hydro electricity comes from the water supply on the farm and just after the power station part, there is a water fall. I managed to get myself in as much as I could without getting soaking, just something I’ve always wanted to do.

The time came to leave which was sad, but I was keen to see where we would be placing our roots for the next two days. Our host was to be Roberto Bendaña, whom I know from my Cup of Excellence board member duties (he is the current chair of the board of directors). Roberto is a really nice guy who knows how to get things done and is a forward thinker (more on this in the next post).

The place is fantastic, and we get treated to some lovely food. Its then time to see where we will sleep. I’m an only chld so I dont think I ever shared a room with four men before. I like my space so the next few days will be challenging. We have one bathroom between the 8 guys, and the tummy bug has spread around so the next two days will prove interesting. But the bunk beds are amazing with Roberto only just getting them made in time for us coming. They are so big and chunky and strong, the carpenter who has put these together is a real craftsmen.

After a long day I get an early night and look forward to only the second time in my life I’ll wake up on a working coffee farm. Some of the others in the group stop up and have some drinks and play cards but I’m not quite up to that yet after feeling not so good.

So our last full day in El Salvador. El Bourbollon is a coffee we have socked a few times (and will again soon) but a coffee I’ve struggled to understand. You see its not one farm but a collection owned in part by the beneficio(mill) owner Edwardo Alvarez which is called Bourbollon.

First we were given a tour of the mill and the process of coffee arriving being milled packed then stored. Unfortunately our new crop La Fany (El Bourbollon also mill for Siberia and La Fany) had just (two days before) been shipped to the UK. I would have loved to see our sacks with our markings to inspect them before they leave but not to be

I was not so good today, and feeling quite unwell. So when it came to a cupping they had organized I had to bow out as when I’m sick I jut cant cope with any coffee. The rest of the team tell me it was fantastic coffee. Lots of different varietals and different grades much fun was had.

We then left to visit two of the farms that are part of the El Bourbollon group El Cero & La Reforma. Still not at my best I didn’t get as much out of it as I might have being fighting fit. But sharing a 4 x 4 with Edwardo was fantastic and his English is so good. He also likes english football, so we had lots to to talk about but as a liverpool fan we didn’t agree too much. Other good things on the trip we went through the famous Finca Kilimanjaro owned by Aida Batlle, which was a nice surprise. I also saw another passed through another farm we used to buy from but haven’t seen for a while.

So before we set back Edwardo invites us to go back to his home for a beer or two and some time to unwind and relax. I’m not sure what my expectations I had, but nothing prepared me for the paradise he lives in. The next time anyone asks me if we buy fair trade coffee I’m just going to show them this guys holiday home and let them decide if we pay ok.

I dont think this is a bad thing at all, in fact a very good thing, if you do a good job then you should be rewarded. Edwardo has built a very successful business and is rewarded from his hard work like everyone else in the world coffee produces should make great money.

I know this isn’t typical of what producers have but it shows what is possible with the right product. Its a great model to look at and say with good coffee the rewards can come.

So more time on a bus for most back to San Salvador but I was again lucky to spend some more time with Edwardo in his car, chatting with two others and me it was a real pleasure. The peope make these trips thats for sure.

The evening I’m feeling much better thanks to magic medicine from Edwardo. Apparently its quite normal for visitors to find the food “difficult” and he always has some ready for such occasions. The last supper was a great meal with some people from the Consejo and Edwardo and his son Juan Antonio, who was telling me about his Crystal Palace friend from england.

I’ve really enjoyed El Salvador, but more so the people. Its an amazing place, and by far the most advanced central/ South American country I’ve visited so far (even more so that Guatamala in my opinion). But the good news is I think the coffee industry there has done a lot of it themselvies. I wrote a post a while back (link here) about what a good job they have been doing and they are reaping the rewards. Meeting people like Roberto Bendana and Louis Rodriguez from the Consejo makes me understand mcu hbetter whop drives this kind of change and who imparts the knowledge to producers of what the specialty market desires.

Early tomorrow we leave for Nicaragua via Honduras, an eight hour drive, then a mill to visits. Tomorrows post will not be as long. Also it may not get posted for a few days as I’m expecting a not so good internet connection for the next few days.

First full day in El Salvador, and I’m pleased to report, I love the place as much as I thought I would. San Salvador is a lovely place, and its the safest I think I’ve ever felt in Central/ South america. Not that I dont feel safe in other places but both nights I’ve been here, I’ve walked through the town on my own without a worry.

This morning I had the option of sitting by the pool relaxing or going on a cup of excellence arranged trip to La ilusion the winning farm from the competition yesterday. As I said earlier we know Ernesto the winner and I’ve exchanged many emails with him so I jumped at the chance to go see one of his farms.

The farm was amazing, any one who tells you you have seen one you have seen them all is talking rubbish. It was great to see how the guys working for him looked after the land, and it was also good to see the trees in flower, the first time I’ve seen this on quite so many plants.

I also got to meet lots of the international jury from last week which was also great, so many names I’ve only read about so it was great to catch up with them all.

We then went onto the mill that is holding and will be processing all of the cup of excellence coffees this year. As a mill we have received previous lots from it was good to see it in action. Its also far and away the biggest mill I’ve ever seem, it was huge as you can see from the photos below.

One of the coolest thing I saw was a bag they had plastered logos all over. Our has bean cup was there (although they had coloured it blue) nice to know there is a little piece of Has Bean there.

Take a look at the full set here

Tomorrow the trip starts for real with a visit to one of my favorite coffees of all time. Finca La Fany has been (lol Has Bean) a staple for over five years. When we first started taking this coffee, it was no where as near popular as it has become. I know I’m going to be like a kid in a sweet shop, I must stop getting all gushy.

And the jokes, well I’ll leave all the fany jokes until tomorrow.

The new space comes on leaps and bounds. The walls are painted, the flooring is being laid, desks, chairs and other essentials are bought.

Next part of the plan is to get shelving up and installed, and I’ve found some one who is going to build us a working bar, so we can have the coffee shop experience in the roastery. But the El Salvador/ Nicaraguan trip couldn’t have come at a worse time for us at the moment, taking me out for over a week. But with all that I hope to be using the space by mid May and hopefully july/ August time have another open day so you can all come look at my lovely new cupping lab.

I write this sitting in Heathrow Airport waiting for my first of two flights today. I’m caught in two places with this trip. I know once I’m there I am going to love it, but its the traveling either side I dont enjoy. Its also the pressure before going and then when back thats no fun at all getting everything in place for me to be away.

But then the experience of meeting the growers and workers and seeing where the “magic” happens will make it worth it, just difficult to see with many hours of traveling ahead. I know there is no sympathy out there for me nor should there be, but a blog is about sharing your thoughts so thats what I’m doing .

More posts to come and more photos about the new space once I can get my camera plugged into the computer.