Producer: Sergio & Isabel Ticas
Farm: Finca Los Planes
Region: Chalatenango
Altitude: 1,625 masl
Varietal: Pacamara
Process: Washed
Roast: Light
Notes: Orange, Hazelnut, Chocolate Milk

La Muela is a special sorted Pacamara lot from the El Matazano, Cerro Los Tamales, and Auracarias farms at Finca Los Planes. After coffee has been depulped (the inner seed separated from its surrounding fruit) it is sent through a criba drum to remove the parchment, or hull. The parchment that is too large to pass through the criba comprises this nanolot. Sr. Ticas believes these beans are produced when the Maragogype genes segregate themselves from the Pacas genes in the Pacamara hybrid. The beans have a molar-like appearance, hence the name “La Muela.”

Pacamara is a hybrid of the flavorful Pacas and the giant, high-production Maragogype varieties that was first bred in El Salvador in 1958. Its large cherries produce a coffee that, when roasted properly, features complex fruit and nut notes with a creamy mouthfeel.

Sergio Ticas and his wife, Isabel, became our first Direct Trade partners nearly 20 years ago. On our first visit it was clear that their commitment to quality and sustainable practices is top priority. They have engaged in various sustainability initiatives over the last few years, like installing a new water recovery system to protect the water supply and purify water used during coffee processing before releasing it back into the ecosystem.

We are proud to have partnered with Finca Los Planes on many projects to help their community and improve the farm since 2007. Providing the surrounding community—many of whom are coffee pickers at Los Planes—with medicines for the clinic and uniforms for the football team have created a solid foundation of trust between the farm and the community. Everyone has a vested interest in a successful harvest each year.