El Salvador Las Brisas

Roasted for espresso by Barcelona's Nomad Coffee, Las Brisas comes from Carlos Pola's farm in Juayúa, high in El Salvador's Apaneca-Ilamatepec mountain range. A fifth-generation grower, Carlos turned to specialty coffee in 2012 and rebuilt the farm after the coffee rust crisis with resilient varieties, mainly Pacamara and Pacas, farmed with contour planting and mycorrhizal fungi that keep the trees healthy through drought. Nomad has worked with him since 2021, and in 2022 a Las Brisas lot became their house coffee.

The cherries are honey processed: pulped without water so some of the sweet mucilage stays on the bean, then rested in the shade and dried on raised beds. In the cup it is warm and comforting, with milk chocolate, California walnut and brown sugar, opening up to Maria biscuit, dates, almond and raisin as it cools.