Browning sugar aromatics on the nose lead into a deeply sweet cup with flavors of red grape and clementine anchored by a bittering cocoa base. This is a deeply enjoyable daily drinker from a master coffee producer.

    Carlos Batres inherited Montecarlos in the mid 1980’s. The fifth generation of his family to steward this land, Batres has made Montecarlos his life’s work. Montecarlos primarily produces five varieties: Catuaí, Caturra, Bourbon, Pacamara, and Gesha. Passenger uses the Catuaí and/or Caturra in our Stowaway Blend each year, the Pacamara and Gesha are offered on our Reserve Lot menu and this, the Bourbon, is a Foundational Offering we hold in deep freeze storage and attempt to have available year-round.

    Montecarlos Estate

    Montecarlos Estate, located in the Apaneca municipality in the Ahuachapán department of El Salvador, is a truly breathtaking farm. Stunning landscapes and awe-inspiring vistas are in great abundance in coffee producing countries. One never tires of seeing lush vegetation adorn mountain tops while driving down bucolic roads and through small provincial towns.

    Carlos and Julie Batres, owners of Montecarlos Estate.

    Ripe Bourbon Coffee Cherry going into the floating tanks at Montecarlos Estate in Apaneca, El Salvador.

    Carlos Batres owns and runs Montecarlos Estate with his wife, Julie. Carlos was born in El Salvador and Julie in Cuba. The farm has been in Carlos’ family since 1870, when his great, great grandfather, Rafael Moran started it.

    As frequently happens in Latin America, the farm was handed down generation by generation, being split amongst siblings with each generation. By the time Carlos inherited land (five generations and any number of siblings/cousins later) the parcel he received was a fraction of the original total. Carlos, having already experienced great success in the coffee industry (though not as a producer), decided at that time to convince his wife Julie to take the farm on as a pet project. Thirty some years later and this pet project continues to unfold and expand as Carlos continues to acquire more and more land from neighbors. In its current form, this impressive farm is 500 hectares in size (1,235 acres), 400 of which are planted in coffee and 100 of which is rainforest.

    Learn more about Montecarlos Estate

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