Over 20 varietals are in production at Los Pirineos, a number Diego has been increasing slowly, along with a greater emphasis on processing. The focus however remains on Pirineos’ incredible terroir, and signature coffees such as Pacamara and Bourbon. This year, we’re excited to share a wider look at Diego’s work than ever before, with new varietals and processes to our selection.
Varietal: Pacamara
Pacamara’s success is closely linked to Los Pirineos’ work with the varietal. Gilberto Baraona was one of the main drivers in the early stages of the varietal’s uptake, and took it to several successes in the Cup of Excellence competition. The Pacamara varietal grown here is even recognised by World Coffee Research as one of the genetic blueprints for the varietal. This natural lot is part of Diego’s continuation of his father’s work.
Pacamara cherries are dried slowly under shade, leading to a soft character in the cup, where the floral notes from the Pacamara shine through a base of berry yoghurt.
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Los Pirineos
The Los Pirineos farm has been in the Baraona family for over 130 years. The farm is named for the Pyrenees mountain range that separates France and Spain; many are struck by the breathtaking landscape here in the far east of El Salvador, close to the border with Honduras. After generations of hard work, the family lost much of their land during the brutal Salvadoran Civil in the 1980’s. Gilberto Baraona returned to the family lands against the wishes of his grandparents, who wanted their descendants to avoid the hardship they had been through while producing coffee. Gilberto’s resolve was strong, and he rebuilt the farm, refocussing on producing high quality coffee until his tragic death in 2020. The farm was then taken over by his son Diego, the fifth generation of the Baraona family to work with coffee. Diego, at only 29, has taken on his father’s legacy with aplomb.
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The garden is home to 70 different varietals, many of which we’ve never seen before on our travels in coffee, or are familiar with from other parts of the coffee belt ...
We visited Los Pirineos in March 2023, our first trip since Diego took over. We were once again stunned by the steep volcanic slopes of the farm, perched on the Tecapa volcano. One of the highlights of a visit to Los Pirineos is always the varietal garden, curated by Diego’s father throughout his time in coffee. The garden is home to 70 different varietals, many of which we’ve never seen before on our travels in coffee, or are familiar with from other parts of the coffee belt. From this varietal garden, over 20 varietals are in production on the farm, a number Diego has been increasing slowly, along with a greater emphasis on processing, but still with a focus on Pirineos’ incredible terroir, and signature coffees such as Pacamara and Bourbon.
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All of Pirineos’ coffee is processed at its purpose-built mill, completed in 2014, specially designed to process and separate high quality microlots, with cleanliness and systems taken very seriously. Gilberto always compared the operation to a fine dining restaurant, where preparation and systems in the kitchen help to deliver the highest possible quality of final product with minimal stress during service (or harvest) time. This level of control and precision requires a well trained staff, so the Baraonas make sure of high pay and good conditions, meaning they are able to maintain a staff of around 60 year-round, almost unheard of in the coffee industry.
The mill is located in a valley which runs from east to west, giving optimal sun exposure and creating a natural wind tunnel, aiding in drying coffee efficiently. The high altitude also leads to lower average temperatures, leading to longer controlled drying times and better shelf life for the coffees. The dry mill is also located here, and with a similarly systematic approach, coffees are packed and prepared for export right on the farm. All of this leads consistently to some of the finest coffees in El Salvador, and under Diego’s guidance, a widening selection of characterful microlots.
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