Nestled at the foothills of the Ilamatepec Volcano is arguably one of the most beautiful coffee farms in the whole of Central America. Some might say I hold a slight bias, as this place will forever have a very fond place in my memory as the first coffee farm I visited – Finca Bosque Lya.
Bosque Lya was established in 1932 when Gustavo Vides Valdes named his property in honour of his newly born daughter, Lya. The farm name Bosque Lya translates to ‘Lya’s forest’, and covers 96 hectares of pristine natural beauty with jaw-dropping views of the volcanoes of western El Salvador and Guatemala on the horizon. 64 hectares of this farm is dedicated to coffee, with the balance being left to luscious natural rainforest. However, in many parts of the farm, it is difficult to determine what is pure rainforest and what isn’t, since so many shade trees and native plant species are used to aid in the nurture and biodiversity of the amazing coffees that grow on the terraces here.
Joe Melina is the guardian of this garden of Eden. His endless dedication to the land working in harmony together to not only produce delicious award-winning coffee but to also develop a natural ecosystem where some of the most exotic flora and fauna flourish is what truly sets this Finca apart.
The coffees that are grown on this farm have been a staple of the Rounton Coffee arsenal since we started out over 7 years ago and were one of the first specialty coffees I had the pleasure to roast and taste. El Salvador Bosque Lya conjures up so many great memories for me – that’s why we are truly excited to share with you this showcase of exceptional coffee with a genuinely great philosophy…
Coffee 1:
Farm: El Salvador Bosque Lya
Process: Washed
Varietal: Red Bourbon
Altitude: 1470-1650 masl
Cup score: 84.5
Cup profile: Hazelnut, Plum, Milk Chocolate with a creamy body This coffee is a true juggernaut of the classic flavour profile. Rich and creamy with a lingering after taste of sweet milk chocolate and hazelnuts. It isn’t that hard to see why this coffee has been an offering of ours for the last seven harvests. The varietal Red Bourbon is widely grown throughout the coffee world, but the terroir of El Salvador and the biodiversity of this particular farm really make it a showcase coffee. The washed process delivers a clean and almost baked fruit tartness that lifts this coffee to the next level. This is a great coffee for anyone who is dipping their toe into the world of specialty coffee and has proven itself to be an award winner receiving the high accolade of 1 star in the great taste awards.
Coffee 2:
Farm: El Salvador Bosque Lya
Process: Natural
Varietal: Red Bourbon
Altitude: 1470-1650 masl
Cup score: 85.5
Cup profile: Redcurrant, Brazil Nut, Silky
This coffee is an exciting one for us at Rounton Coffee. This is the first Natural coffee we have had from Bosque Lya. This is also the first naturally processed coffee available for sale from the farm in some time. So, we are truly honoured and delighted that we have managed to grab ourselves a bag of this. I can say with great confidence that you will not be disappointed with this offering. Full of sweet, ripe, redcurrant acidity and silky undertones, layered with an almost tropical vibrancy offers a clean but complex cup profile. Using the same Red Bourbon variety, you can see why this coffee is a true credit to the natural processing technique. This will also serve as a good exercise for anyone who is wanting to compare the two processes side by side.
As always, we are extremely proud of the relationships we have forged with the producers of these amazing coffees. We are excited for these coffees to be out in the world, being enjoyed and shared by so many people who see the benefits in investing in seasonal specialty coffee and from the whole team, we really hope you enjoy this showcase.
Thanks again, Joe, for providing us with these absolute beauties.
Buy the Bosque Lya Showcase here.
Burts X