Las Mercedes, Tecapa, El Salvador

About

Finca Las Mercedes has been family-owned since 1886. It is located in eastern El Salvador, in the Tecapa-Chinameca coffee region, which is characterized by the majestic volcanoes Tecapa, Chinameca, and Chaparrastique. The rich volcanic soil and the natural microclimate are perfect for growing coffee. ‘Pasión’ means passion, dedication, or commitment. That’s exactly what Lucia de Ortiz, her sister-in-law Silvia, and the whole family put into the Las Mercedes coffee farm. The coffee called ‘Pasión’ is a blend from Borbones across the entire farm, from all altitudes and all harvest cycles. The commitment to bringing out the best in even less-than-perfect cherries is reflected in this naturally processed coffee.

Las Mercedes

The Ortiz Barriere family has been cultivating coffee for over 130 years in the Tecapa-Chinameca region of eastern El Salvador. Today, their farms operate under the name Las Mercedes – a brand that stands for consistency, quality, and deep family commitment. Las Mercedes is led by Silvia Ortiz and her sister-in-law Lucia de Ortiz, who oversee each harvest with extensive experience and an uncompromising dedication to quality.

The coffees from Las Mercedes are harvested exclusively by hand and in multiple passes to ensure that only fully ripe cherries are selected. The farm operates its own beneficio, featuring both traditional brick patios and African drying beds. Coffees are primarily processed as washed, honey, or natural, with anaerobic methods also available upon special request.

Lucia and Sandra are true perfectionists—the beneficio is spotless, highly structured, and strictly organized, ensuring meticulous attention to detail at every stage. Even non-specialty lots—such as the first harvest pass or cherries that are underripe—are processed with such care that they still result in impressively high quality.

For final preparation for export—including quality control, hulling, sorting, and packaging—the family partners with Beneficio Tuxpal near Santa