Mariana Flores

Located in Loja in southern Ecuador, Finca San Luis sits within a mountainous region known for its warm daytime temperatures and cool nights—ideal conditions for producing high-quality coffee. Loja is currently experiencing a resurgence in coffee production, with a growing focus on quality and improved processing methods among smallholder farmers.

Finca San Luis is owned and operated by Mariana Flores, who took over the farm in 2023. The farm has been in her family for over 50 years and was originally run by her father. After his passing, Mariana returned from her career as an educator to restore the farm, which had been left unproductive for some time. Since then, she has focused on rebuilding operations with an emphasis on high-quality specialty coffee.

This lot is a Sidra variety, a cultivar native to Ecuador with links to Bourbon, Typica and a hybrid developed by Nestlé. It is processed using a washed double anaerobic fermentation method, where the cherries first ferment whole before a second fermentation in mucilage. This processing approach contributes to increased clarity, fruit intensity, and structure in the cup.

Sweet and balanced in the cup, we taste bright mandarin up front, followed by soft apricot jam, a praline-like richness and honey sweetness.

This is our first release from Mariana Flores, sourced through our good friends at Café Imports, and we’re excited to share a coffee with such a balanced and expressive profile.