Finca Malacara is a historic coffee farm in the Santa Ana region of El Salvador, established in 1888 and managed by the same family for multiple generations. Located on the slopes of the Santa Ana Volcano at approximately 1,500 meters above sea level, the 50-hectare farm combines traditional coffee cultivation with ongoing agricultural innovation. In addition to Bourbon varieties, the farm has introduced newer cultivars while maintaining a focus on quality and careful cherry selection. Malacara is shaded by thousands of native trees, uses targeted, eco-friendly soil management practices, and grows additional crops such as avocados, raspberries, peaches, and prunes, supporting a diverse and sustainable farming operation.
Country of Origin: El Salvador
Region: Santa Ana
Producer Type: Single Estate
Farm Name: Finca Malacara
Processing: Washed
Processing Description: Sun Dried on Patios
Growing Altitude: 1500 MASL
Plant Species: Arabica
Varietal: Red Bourbon
History of El Salvador Coffee
Coffee was first introduced to El Salvador from the Caribbean as a garden crop in the mid-18th century but did not gain a commercial production foothold until 1850’s because indigo, easier to grow and more profitable, was king. Coffee was first exported—695 bags—in 1856 and the government began to encourage coffee farming. Exponential growth coincided with the development of synthetic indigo near the end of the century. At one time, El Salvador was one of the largest producers of commercial coffees. Today, with a focus on quality over quantity, 70% of coffee from El Salvador sells for a premium above commodity prices.
Growing Coffee in El Salvador
In 1975 El Salvador was, remarkably for its size, one of the largest coffee producers in the world, exporting 3.8 million bags. Today, a good year is 600,000 bags. Today, 86% of producers are responsible for only 20% of the country’s production, having 7 hectares or less. This means, that 80% of coffee production is controlled by only 14% of producers. And yet, because peace in El Salvador and the opening of coffee farming to smallholders coincided with the emergence of the specialty coffee sector in consuming countries and the inevitable rise of new-thinking generations within old families, there is a pervasive focus on quality regardless of farm size. Most coffee from El Salvador was sold at a differential price above commodity prices.
