Flavour profile: A crisp aroma of cacao and dried mango. The coffee is effervescent and chocolatey in a balance with flavour notes of jasmine, cacao, and the dryness of champagne. A refreshing finish of mango, with a smooth mouthfeel and a medium body.
Category: Curious
Colour: Creamy purlple
Producer: Gloria Rodrigues & Luis Rodrigues
Farm: Finca Nejapa
Lot: Roma
Varietal: Elefante
Process: Washed
Location: Ahuachapán, Santa Ana
Harvest: March to April 2023
Elevation: 1550 meters above sea level
Roast style: Light to medium to enhance the natural flavours of the coffee.
Price transparency: The FOB price we paid for this coffee was 8 US$/Ib
Finca Nejapa Washed Elefante is produced by Gloria and Luis Rodrigues, who discovered this natural mutation of the Bourbon varietal on their family farm. The Elefante coffee cherry is bigger than the other varietals, hence the name, Elefante. It also produces three times more mucilage compared to a Bourbon. The fruit looks much like a Pacamara and the seed (bean) like a Bourbon. In flavour, it is more bright, floral, and delicate. We have a small lot of washed Elefante, and this will be a bright and clean coffee, yet round and smooth from the El Salvadorian terroir. We're so happy to have this washed Elefante with us for a third year now!
The Finca Nejapa farm is on the slopes of the Laguna de Las Ninfas (Waterlilies Lagoon) with a spectacular sight over the Apaneca-Ilamatepec mountain range. Nejapa farms 7 hectares reforested with cedar trees, approximately 10 years old. The farm also has a diversity of shade trees, which helps maintain and preserve both the soil conditions and a wide variety of birds and small mammals that live in that region.
The success of Finca Nejapa is the result of a strong family unit. The farm was initially inherited by Gloria’s father, José María Rodrígues Herrera in the 50’s, at that time the property was devoted to dairy cows, and it was José Maria who started growing coffee of the Bourbon variety. Little by little, he noticed coffee was extremely productive in that area, and that is where the story begins.
Today Gloria runs the farm with her son-in-law Luis. Their hard work and skills have really paid off in the quality of their product. By working together, they maintain and potentially improve the working conditions as well as the cup profile. Every year, Gloria establishes nurseries with selected seeds to keep her farm in good shape, balance production, and secure future crops.
To read more about the Rodrigues family and Finca Nejapa click here.
