Your early morning cup of excellence to inspire you to create
Fortaleza
Diversity of Origins Specialty
Fortaleza -
Diversity of Origins
Fortaleza is a Café de Palo, and it means: "strength." It refers to: 1) the strength and density of our coffee beans given the high elevations at which it is grown, and 2) the strength and resilience of the people that cultivate our coffees.
Specialty Coffee from Central America
Each region in the world produces coffees as unique in flavor and aromas as the terroir, elevation, and climate in which they are cultivated. In higher altitudes and cooler climates, for example, the coffee cherry ripens slowly, allowing the bean to develop more complex and pronounced characteristics, becoming more dense, fragrant, round body, and of delicate acidity notes. The coffee is denser and stronger the higher the elevation at which it is cultivated.
Fortaleza means strength
Fortaleza evokes the strength, resilience and rich history of the origins of our coffees. For example, our coffee regions include El mozote, the ground site where one of the bloodiest massacres in the history of Latinamerica ocurred during the civil war in December of 1981.
Our coffees are grown at high elevations in various terroirs in Central America
Coffees from this region exude a full bodied character with delicate acidity notes, and an elegant fragrance reminiscent of dried wood, pine and oak trees abundant in this region. The coffees here absorb the tropical climate and abundant sunlight to produce intensely and delicately crafted fragrant coffees. Coffee trees are grown here at above 4,000 feet above sea level, with abundant sunlight, proper shade and dense vegetation that influences their fragrance and flavors.
El Salvador
El Salvador possesses high elevations and strictly volcanic soil which make the terroir proper for cultivating specialty coffees of diverse genetic varieties and quality. El Salvador is undergoing a transformation, focusing on the cultivation of environmentally conscious specialty coffees to revitalize its coffee sector. El Salvador is known for producing high-quality coffee, and some of the world's most sought-after varieties are cultivated there, including Pacamara.
Guatemala
Guatemala possess high elevations and dense vegetations to produce specialty coffees at scale. For example, El Valle de Antigua is dominated by the Fuego, Agua and Acatenango volcanoes, thus the fertile volcanic soil is characterized by rich mineral wealth and proper slope for drainage. Coffee trees are grown here at above 4,900 feet above sea level, with abundant sunlight, proper shade and dense vegetation to protect them from the the cold nights typical at this altitude. The most common varieties grown in Guatemala are Bourbon, Caturra, Catuai, and Pache.
Honduras
Honduras has become the dominant exporter of coffee in Central America. Historically, Honduras has been known primarily as a source for commercial-grade arabicas, but the country today produces a wide range of qualities from commercial to specialty. Honduras has one of the most organized coffee sectors in the region, primarily through IHCAFE, which supports farmers to access fertilizers and other inputs, loan repayment, and renovation. Honduran farmers grow a mix of traditional and improved arabica varieties, including Lempira and Parainema.
