La Bendición

Roaster notes

Bobby Ulloa Rusconi, along with his father Roberto Ulloa of Divina Providencia, has implemented a regenerative plan on La Bendición over the last few years. They have both stopped applying herbicides and fungicides and are using more manual methods of pest and disease control on their farms. One of the most important tools on the farm is the Cuma machete which has a unique blade shape and is widely used in El Salvador. The machete has an elongated downward facing curve at its end which is sharpened on the inside edge of the blade. It is used in a controlled gathering or scooping type motion to cut back long grass, small trees, and branches. Another useful tool is the strimmer, used in larger areas for grass control. For coffee-leaf-rust they apply a copper calcium sulphate formula which acts directly on the fungus and has no effect on the coffee flower buds. They have planted more shade trees, including Inga, Guachipilin, and Cipres to protect the coffee plants from too much direct sun. This also helps protect the mulch they add to the soil from drying out too quickly. All these interventions are time and labour intensive, but as a result the farm has great productivity and looks very healthy.

Tasting notes