La Esperanza

Bernardina is an exclusive coffee variety discovered by Café Pacas in 2012 at Finca Los Bellotos, thanks to the careful observation of farm manager Ruperto Bernardino Merche, who first noticed a group of
unusual trees with exceptionally sweet cherries.

After harvesting and processing these cherries separately, the coffee revealed an extraordinary cup profile. A later DNA analysis confirmed that it did not match any known variety. We named it Bernardina in honor of the person whose experience and attention first brought these trees to light. 

Since its discovery, Café Pacas has spent years studying Bernardina, reproducing it, and exploring its potential across different altitudes, farms, and microclimates. This long-term work has allowed us to preserve the variety carefully while discovering how it can express
itself in different environments.

Today, Bernardina is grown exclusively by Café Pacas. Each lot is part of our ongoing effort to understand, preserve, and share a rare variety discovered within our own farms.

Over the years, Bernardina has earned international recognition, including Cup of Excellence awards and appearances in international barista competitions. It is part of our Incunables category, a collection reserved for Café Pacas’ rarest and most exceptional coffees.

Located in Cantón El Porvenir, in the mountains of Chalchuapa, Santa Ana, Finca La Esperanza is one of Café Pacas’ most important farms for
varietal exploration and coffee discovery. Since 2010, Café Pacas has led the transformation of La Esperanza into a productive varietal garden at farm scale.

Each tablón is planted with a different variety, allowing us to understand how each coffee expresses itself across altitude, shade, soil, and microclimate — not as a small
experimental plot, but as a living farm where every variety has its own identity and is available to our clients. 

With elevations ranging from 1,100 to 1,650 meters above sea level, volcanic soils, hilly terrain, and diverse shade, La Esperanza offers a dynamic environment where each lot can develop a distinct character.

This farm is especially meaningful in Bernardina’s journey. The Bernardina trees planted at La Esperanza were the first trees we reproduced after discovering the variety at Finca Los Bellotos.

They represent the beginning of our work to understand how Bernardina could grow, adapt, and express itself beyond its original trees. This year, that journey reached a historic milestone. La Esperanza
Bernardina Honey earned 1st Place Overall at Cup of Excellence El Salvador 2026, with a score of 91.95 points, becoming the top coffee
of the competition. 

Behind this achievement is the daily leadership of Yanira Mendoza, farm manager of La Esperanza, whose dedication, discipline, and deep knowledge of the farm have been essential in bringing this coffee to its full potential. Her work, together with the commitment of our agricultural, processing, and quality teams, is reflected in the precision and character of this exceptional lot.