$28

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Jose Guillermo 'Epe' Alvarez is the fourth-generation owner of Finca Malacara. It is one of the most venerable coffee estates in El Salvador and is located in Santa Ana, one of the most celebrated coffee regions in all of Central America. This lot comes from a selection of the farm's Bourbon trees, which have been cultivated on the farm since it was first established by the Alvarez family in 1888.


In addition to the classic red coffee cherries that most coffee trees produce, some Bourbon trees yield yellow and orange cherries, which are distinct in both color and taste. Harvested from only the Bourbon trees that produce orange cherries, this lot was processed as a natural with the fruit still intact. After harvest, the cherries were rinsed in clean water and carefully dried on raised beds for up to 26 days.
  • Country El Salvador
  • Flavor Profile Apple + Raw Sugar
  • Variety Bourbon

The details

Origin story

  • Country El Salvador
  • Producer Jose Guillermo Alvarez
  • Region Santa Ana
  • Elevation Range 1650 m
  • Processing Method Natural
  • Drying Method Raised Bed
  • Harvest January - April 2024
  • Direct Trade Partner Since 2005
  • In Season
  • Direct Trade
Jose Guillermo 'Epe' Alvarez is the fourth-generation owner of Finca Malacara. It is one of the most venerable coffee estates in El Salvador and is located in Santa Ana, one of the most celebrated coffee regions in all of Central America. This lot comes from a selection of the farm's Bourbon trees, which have been cultivated on the farm since it was first established by the Alvarez family in 1888. In addition to the classic red coffee cherries that most coffee trees produce, some Bourbon trees yield yellow and orange cherries, which are distinct in both color and taste. Harvested from only the Bourbon trees that produce orange cherries, this lot was processed as a natural with the fruit still intact. After harvest, the cherries were rinsed in clean water and carefully dried on raised beds for up to 26 days.

How To Brew

We recommend starting with a 1:18 coffee-to-water ratio, which provides an excellent total extraction level and maximizes flavor pulled out of the ground coffee. For our single origin coffees we recommend a pour over method either on a Chemex, V60 or Kalita Wave on a 5 or 6 grind setting if you are ordering from Intelligentsiacoffee.com.

Recommended Method Pour Over

  1. 01.
    Boil Water 205 - 216 F
  2. 02.
    Weigh Coffee 1g of coffee per 18g of water
  3. 03.
    Drop In Filter Add filter to equipment
  4. 04.
    Grind Coffee Grind coffee and add to filter
  5. 05.
    Add Water Add water in stages
  6. 06.
    Remove Filter Enjoy your coffee!
Image of pour over demonstration
    • Image of two growers hugging in field
      Image of two growers hugging in field
    • Image of the sky and mountains landscape
      Image of the sky and mountains landscape
    • Image of growers sorting coffee beans
      Image of growers sorting coffee beans

    Why We're Different

    • Intelligentsia coffee buyers travel year-round working with a network of farmers. From the farm, coffee arrives at the roasting works in Chicago and Los Angeles, where coffee professionals cup, grade, and release over 50 single-origins and blends annually.

    • Intelligentsia Direct Trade means partnering with people who obsess about quality as much as we do, and building meaningful relationships with farmers. Today, the Intelligentsia Direct Trade community includes more than 50 partners in 14 countries.

    • A quarter-century of obsession with quality, more than 15 years of sourcing great coffee the right way, and an authoritative point of view on how to elevate coffee make Intelligentsia a trusted partner on your coffee journey.

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El Salvador Malacara Orange Natural
El Salvador Malacara Orange Natural