Lot 11: Las Brumas A Ernesto Menendez

At Finca Las Brumas, coffee isn't just a crop—it's a way of life, carried through three generations of the Menéndez family. Our journey began in 1930 with Dr. Carlos Menéndez Castro, whose passion for coffee farming was passed down to his son, and then to the current steward of this legacy, who inherited his first farm at just 19 years old.

They embrace sustainable practices, use no herbicides, and invest in extended fermentation experiments, including the anaerobic processes that earned them COE 2024's top spot. The team, drawn from the local community, includes 30 full-time workers during the growing season and 40 during harvest—people who share their vision, their story, and their love for coffee.

Ernesto shared his story, saying "I belong to the third generation of coffee producers in my family. My grandfather, Dr. Carlos Menéndez Castro, began cultivating coffee in 1930. Later, my father, Lic. Carlos Menéndez Salazar, continued the tradition. When my father passed away in 1995, I inherited my first coffee farm at the age of 19, and I've dedicated myself 100% to coffee cultivation ever since".

I had the opportunity to work with three major coffee companies in El Salvador: J. Hill & Co., JASAL S.A. de C.V., and Agroindustrias El Carmen from 1999 to 2012. At J. Hill & Co. and JASAL, I was part of the quality control department starting in 1999. This role allowed me to learn the art of cupping and understand the processes of quality assurance throughout the coffee production and export chain. Thanks to this experience, I was able to serve as a National Jury member in Cup of Excellence El Salvador from its first edition in 2003 through 2011.

In 2007, I participated for the first time in Cup of Excellence with Finca Alaska, placing 8th. That achievement motivated me to continue with even more dedication, and in 2008, I won 1st place in COE El Salvador with Finca La Ilusión. After fulfilling the dream of winning first place, I helped my brother Francisco Menéndez process coffee from his farm, and we placed 2nd in 2009, and then 1st in 2010 with Finca Suiza. These were very special years for me.

In 2011, inspired by our continued success, I focused on further improving our processes. That year, we had the opportunity to support Alejandro Méndez, El Salvador's National Barista Champion, by providing our best coffees from Finca La Ilusión for the World Barista Championship in Bogotá, where he won 1st place and became World Barista Champion.