STORY
El Caracol is a 150-manzana coffee farm (255 acres) located in the mountainous region of Chalatenango, El Salvador.
Owner José Barahona was born in Santa Teresa, in the department of Chalatenango. From an early age, José worked alongside his family harvesting coffee, corn, and other crops to help make ends meet. His strong work ethic and ambition eventually led him to purchase his own coffee farm, later expanding into coconut farming and several other businesses.
José eventually came to the United States, where he opened a chain of fast-food restaurants in the Washington, D.C., area. Over the years, he has continued to build a diverse portfolio of businesses while staying deeply connected to his roots and community back home in El Salvador.
Beyond business, José has a big heart for his community. He helped fund the construction of an elementary school for local children and continues to award scholarships each year, helping provide educational opportunities for the next generation.
El Caracol produces washed, honey, and natural-process coffees, with varieties including Bourbon, Pacamara, and Pacas. During our quick visit to the farm, we had the opportunity to cup some of the honey and natural coffees—and we were blown away by the quality, complexity, and character in the cup. This coffee was sourced by CafeNor, a speciality coffee mill and producer organization run by the Valiente family, sourcing from over 65 coffee producers.
This is our first El Salvador coffee since 2011, and we're excited to share it with you. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Grown between 1,000 and 1,700 meters above sea level, coffee thrives in the region’s rich clay soils and temperate climate. Producers cultivate a mix of Bourbon, Caturra, Maragogipe, Mundo Novo, and Typica varieties. During harvest, each producer carefully selects perfectly ripe coffee cherries before hand-sorting, depulping, and fermenting them. The coffee is then washed and dried on patios or raised beds until it reaches approximately 11% moisture. While each family typically harvests its own coffee, neighbors often work together during processing and washing, reflecting the collaborative nature of the community.
Many producers continue to cultivate older coffee varieties that can produce exceptional quality but may offer lower yields and greater susceptibility to disease. The Coffee Leaf Rust outbreak of 2012 devastated Mexico’s coffee sector and, combined with historically low coffee prices, forced many families to leave coffee farming. As prices have improved, families and communities have begun returning to coffee and investing in production once again.
Garra de Jaguar manages the coffee’s exportation, transporting parchment from the community to the dry mill while maintaining traceability and working to ensure premiums reach producers. It has been a few years since we’ve featured the balanced, round mouthfeel and silky character we love from Oaxaca, and we’re excited to welcome Buenavista Loxicha back into the fold.
