El Pasti Micro-region in Santa Ana, El Salvador | Washed Pacas from El Sunzita Sunset Farm

El Pasti Micro-region, Santa Ana, El Salvador | What Are the Flavors of Washed Pacas from El Sunzita Sunset Farm?

Sunset Farm (El Sunzita) belongs to Mauricio and his wife Mary, who received the land from their family. Mauricio's brother owns a much larger plantation called "El Sunza" that surrounds Sunset Farm, spanning 200 manzanas (140 hectares). In the past, Sunset's coffee was sent over to El Sunza to be mixed with other lots and sold.

Mauricio is an agronomist by training. A few years ago he noticed something special: the main variety on Sunset Farm is a Bourbon hybrid found nowhere else in the El Sunza area - and it happens to be his personal favorite. 65% of the farm is planted with it, and he later named it "Hybrid from El Pasti." Once he identified the variety, the couple decided to strike out on their own and build an independent coffee business. Although Sunset Farm covers just 16 manzanas (11.2 hectares), they maintain a beautiful nursery, a micro depulper - and their daughter and son have joined the operation. Mauricio runs farm management; Mary handles logistics.

Besides Hybrid from El Pasti, the farm also grows Yellow Bourbon and Pacas. This year's coffee from Sunset Farm is washed Pacas.

Coffee Information

Variety: Pacas

Region: El Pasti, Santa Ana

Farm: El Sunzita Sunset Farm

Producers: Mauricio Ortiz & Mary Ortiz

Altitude: 1400 meters

Process: Washed

Flavor Notes: Vanilla custard, pear, macadamia nuts, creamy mouthfeel

FrontStreet Coffee's Recommended Brewing Method

Dripper: Hario V60

Water Temperature: 90°C

Grind Size: Fuji Royal grinder setting 3.5

Brewing Method: Water-to-coffee ratio 1:15 with 15g of coffee. First pour 25g of water for a 25-second bloom. Second pour to 120g, then pause. Once the water level drops halfway, resume and pour slowly up to 225g total water. Extraction time approximately 2:00.

Analysis: The three-stage brew cleanly separates the front, middle, and back sections of the flavor. Because the V60 has many ribs and drains relatively quickly, pausing during the pour helps extend extraction time.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Washed processing is prized for exactly the qualities this Salvadoran Pacas shows - bright acidity, cleanliness, and the bean's own aromatics preserved. If you love that style, FrontStreet Coffee's washed specialty shelf is worth exploring: the FrontStreet Worka (Guodingding) Cooperative Yirgacheffe, with its jasmine florals, bright citrus acidity, and green tea and honey tones at a medium-light roast; the FrontStreet Kenya Cherry Tomato, a double-washed Kenyan bursting with cherry tomato, dried plum, snow pear, black plum, and yellow sugar in a sweet, juicy cup; and the classic FrontStreet Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1, whose washed process yields hazelnut, cream, chocolate, and caramel in a perfectly balanced, full-bodied brew.