El Salvador Finca El Carmen – A Direct Trade Micro-Lot with Heart, Heritage & Extraordinary Flavor
Our newest addition to the CoffeeAM Direct Trade family comes from Finca El Carmen, a remarkable Rainforest Alliance–certified coffee estate rooted on the slopes of Chinchontepec Volcano, the second-highest volcano in El Salvador. Since 1955, the Cristiani Burkard family has cultivated exceptional coffees here — but their mission extends far beyond the cup.
This micro-lot represents the very best of their estate: shade-grown Bourbon and Pacamara cherries, hand-picked at elevations between 900 and 1,700 meters, and meticulously washed and sun- or shade-dried at their on-site, eco-efficient mill. Because they process only their own harvest, every bag offers a flavor profile that is unmistakably and authentically El Carmen.
A Farm Where Quality and Responsibility Work Together
What makes this coffee truly special is the farm’s deep commitment to the land and the people who depend on it.
• 50% of the farm is preserved as natural forest, making it a vital refuge for native and migratory species.
• Their shade-grown cultivation represents a living ecosystem — part of the coffee forest canopy that makes up 70% of El Salvador’s remaining tree cover.
• Their mill uses 90% less water than traditional mills, and every by-product is recycled or repurposed.
• Integrated pest management reduces chemical reliance, while cassava-planted natural barriers protect the soil from erosion.
• More than 200 families benefit year-round, with up to 600 supported during harvest, through programs focused on education, healthcare, and technical skill development.
This is coffee grown with intention — for quality, for community, and for the future of El Salvador’s coffee lands.
Flavor Profile: Complex, Creamy, and Beautifully Balanced
You’ll taste the difference from the very first sip.
This micro-lot delivers a cup that’s bright yet smooth, with layered notes of:
• Creamy orange
• Cherry sweetness
• A deliciously soft, lingering finish
Elegant, expressive, and impeccably clean — a standout example of what El Salvador’s volcano-grown coffees can achieve.
Farm-to-Cup Traceability You Can Feel Good About
As part of our Direct Trade & Micro-Lot program, every purchase directly supports the farmers, families, and communities who make this coffee possible. You’re not just enjoying an exceptional cup — you’re investing in sustainable coffee farming and helping preserve El Salvador’s coffee-growing heritage.
This offering from Finca El Carmen is limited, and it’s one we’re genuinely excited to share. If you’ve never experienced El Salvador through the lens of a truly exceptional micro-lot, this is the place to begin.
Past El Salvador Micro-Lots:
El Salvador Finca Montes Urales Coffee
From high in the mountains of El Salvador comes this Direct Trade, micro-lot, El Salvador Finca Montes Urales. Grown on a family farm in volcanic soils at altitudes between 4,500 and 5,300 feet above sea level, this delicious gourmet coffee is full of complex flavors.
The beans at Finca Montes Urales are hand-harvested and sorted, washed, and dried in the sun on raised beds. As a direct trade farm, the farmers, their families, and the community benefit directly from the sale of their coffee beans. As a micro-lot, this coffee crop comes from a very small area, meaning that the flavor isn't mixed with other coffees from the rest of the country. It's the purest local coffee you can get without visiting the farm yourself! It is truly farm-to-cup.
El Salvador Finca Piemonte Millenium Coffee
A complex yet balanced coffee with a hint of creamy orange, cherries, and a pleasantly sweet finish. You've never experienced El Salvador like this!Even within a country, every patch of soil is different and yields its own locally unique batch of coffee. A micro-lot is a coffee crop that comes from a very small area, meaning that the flavor isn't mixed with other coffees from the rest of the country. It's the purest local coffee you can get without visiting the farm yourself! It's even Rainforest Alliance Certified, so you know that every sale helps conserve our rainforests.• Location: Apaneca, Ahuachapan, El Salvador• Elevation: 1,300m-1,500m above sea level• Varietal: Millenium• Process: Washed, Sun-Dried on Raised Beds• Roast: MediumOur Direct Trade & Micro Lot program lets you learn more about the farmers behind this exquisite coffee!Our thanks to the descendants of the Magaña-Menendez family, who have devoted their time and efforts for over 100 years to bring you this fantastic coffee treasure! Their focus on sustainable growing practices and raising high-quality coffee crops has allowed them to produce an exceptional crop that we're excited to share with you.
