Dinner Date / El Salvador

Varietal: Pacamara

Process: Natural

Producer: Metapan Project, Various Farmers

Geography: Metapan, Santa Ana, El Salvador

• Alejandro Valiente comes from a family with four generations of coffee-growing history in the Metapán region of northwest El Salvador. In 2010, when he assumed control of the family’s wet mill, Alejandro began experimenting with processing techniques to highlight the untapped potential of coffees from this area. His efforts quickly gained recognition, especially after submitting a Pacamara to an innovative project by the Millennium Fund. This achievement brought Alejandro accolades and invitations to work on agronomy initiatives in Nicaragua and Guatemala, where he shared his expertise for several years.
• In 2017, Alejandro returned to his family farm with a renewed focus on his community, creating the Socios de Cosecha (Harvest Partners) project to empower local producers. He introduced transformative changes, upgrading the mill with three-tiered drying beds that blend into the natural landscape, and establishing an on-site cupping lab to enable farmers to assess their own coffees. The project now collaborates with 67 small producers, each managing farms of just 1–3 hectares, ensuring 100% traceability for every micro-lot.
• A state-of-the-art solar-powered dry mill was added to reduce milling costs and achieve full vertical integration in the supply chain. Alejandro’s commitment to sustainability and innovation has positioned the project as a model for eco-friendly practices. The seamless integration of these techniques not only enhances the environment but also produces exceptional coffees.