El Salvador

El Salvador

In recent years, El Salvador has focused on quality and innovation, with producers refining processes and showcasing exceptional Bourbon and Pacamara varietals. Known for its smooth balance, gentle acidity, and refined sweetness, the country’s diverse coffee regions produce flavours ranging from rich chocolate to bright citrus, offering complexity and character in every cup.

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Your guide to El Salvador

  • What is the profile of El Salvadoran coffee?

    El Salvador’s coffee is known for its smooth, well-balanced profile with gentle acidity and a honey-like sweetness. These qualities make it an excellent choice for espresso blends, adding depth and silkiness.

    In recent years, the country has placed a stronger emphasis on quality, producing outstanding single-origin coffees. High-quality varietals like Bourbon and Pacamara thrive here, offering vibrant yet refined flavours with complexity and clarity. Depending on the region and processing method, Salvadoran coffees can range from chocolatey and sweet to bright and citrusy.

  • What is special about coffee from El Salvador?

    El Salvador has a long history of coffee cultivation, but the industry underwent a transformation with the arrival of the Cup of Excellence in 2003. This competition spotlighted the country’s top producers, driving innovation and a renewed focus on quality.

    Today, Salvadoran coffee farmers are highly skilled and dedicated to excellence. Many have shifted from large-scale production to more experimental approaches, refining fermentation techniques and exploring new processing methods. As the industry evolves, expect even more outstanding coffees from this small but ambitious coffee-growing nation.

  • Where is coffee grown in El Salvador?

    • Alotepec-Metapán – Known for its high-altitude farms (1,000–2,000m), this northern region produces exceptionally high-quality coffee with medium acidity and pronounced flavour.
    • El Bálsamo-Quezaltepec – Home to the San Salvador Volcano, this region benefits from rich volcanic soils and elevations between 500–1,900m, yielding coffees with full body, strong flavour, and medium acidity.
    • Tecapa-Chinameca – This diverse region, ranging from 500–2,000m, includes the Chaparrastique Volcano. Coffees from here have good body, pronounced aroma, and medium acidity.
    • Cacahuatique – Located between San Miguel and Morazán at altitudes of 500–1,663m, this region is known for its high-acidity coffees with floral aromas and mild body. Due to its clay-like soil, farmers often enrich the land before planting.
    • Chicontepec – A newer coffee-growing region between La Paz and San Vicente, with Bourbon and Pacas varietals thriving in the volcanic soils. Coffees here tend to have full body, medium acidity, and a smooth, mild aroma.
    • Apaneca-Ilamatepec – One of El Salvador’s most renowned coffee-growing areas, this western region includes farms near the Santa Ana Volcano, reaching elevations of up to 2,365m. Coffees from here are known for their full body, high acidity, and vibrant flavour.

  • What is our relationship with El Salvadoran producers like?

    We work with Productor Coffee to connect with producers in El Salvador. They’ve been growing, processing, and exporting coffee for six generations, dating back to the 1840s.

    Productor Coffee is committed to quality and long-term relationships with roasters who care about excellence. Their approach to farming, processing, and quality control ensures consistent, high-calibre coffees. They also collaborate with like-minded producers in Brazil, Colombia, and El Salvador, working together to unify quality standards.

    To better serve the growing community of specialty roasters in Europe, they’ve established a European importing company, allowing for direct deliveries to roasters across the continent.

Your questions, answered

What is the Green Coffee Collective?

We’re a community of coffee producers and sourcing experts, all working together to make green coffee easy to access—whether you’re a hobby roaster at home or a professional roasting hundreds of tonnes a year. Our platform is designed to simplify buying green coffee, just like any other online shopping experience. No fuss, just great coffee at your fingertips.

Do you offer support for direct trade relationships with producers?

Yes, we’re always happy to make introductions! If you’re interested in working directly with one of our producers, just send us an email (hello@greencoffeecollective.com) and we’ll gladly help facilitate the connection. For larger volumes, we can also assist with logistics and any complexities involved in sourcing directly from producers.

Do you offer samples or trial batches before committing to larger orders?

Yes, we offer samples for most of our coffees. If you need a larger sample than what’s typically available, we recommend trying one of the smaller quantity options listed on our site. That way, you can test the coffee before committing to a larger order.

What is your process for ensuring consistency between lots or harvests?

We work closely with our sourcing partners to make sure we’re always offering top-quality coffee. Most of the partners you’ll find on our site have years of experience in their regions, and they use that expertise to access the best coffees available each season. Their deep relationships with producers help maintain consistency in both quality and supply.

What is your minimum order quantity (MOQ) for large-scale or long-term contracts?

For larger-scale or long-term contracts, you can start with as little as a single bag. We’re also working on tools to help you access harvests and reserve coffees before they even leave the country. While it’s not fully ready yet, we’re always here to help roasters of any size connect with the producers they want to work with.

How do you handle logistics and shipping for larger orders?

We’ve got you covered! For larger orders, we offer full logistical support, including freight, warehousing, and inventory management. We’ll make sure the process is as smooth and hassle-free as possible, so you can focus on roasting great coffee. If you’re shipping internationally, we can also assist in ensuring smooth delivery.

Can I arrange a visit to origin or participate in harvest season visits?

We’re working on coordinating trips in the future! In the meantime, if there’s a specific origin you’d like to visit, just get in touch with us, and we’ll do our best to help arrange something.

What’s your pricing structure, and are there discounts or benefits for bulk purchases?

Our pricing is straightforward. For quantities smaller than 60kg, we add a small premium to cover warehousing, picking, packaging, handling, and shipping—this helps make smaller orders possible. For full sacks, we take a commission from our sourcing partners, so the price you pay with us is the same as if you purchased directly from them. Discounts for larger volumes are listed on our site, and we calculate these based on consultations with producers and sourcing partners, reflecting the benefits of buying in bulk and committing to ongoing orders.