This coffee is from Finca Llano Grande in El Salvador, specifically from the Apaneca region at 1,500 meters altitude. It is a Pacamara variety grown by Rafael Snr of Sicafe. The coffee is processed using anaerobic natural method, where the cherries are fermented in sealed tanks before drying. The result is a vibrant cup with distinctive notes of lychees, white grapes, and cream soda. The Pacamara variety is a celebrated hybrid combining the productivity of Pacas with the exceptional cup quality of Maragogype.
Juan and Jayne, a husband and wife team, founded Carnival Coffee Roasters in 2019 in Penge, south east London, after a conversation in a local pub. The connection to coffee is deeply personal: Juan's grandfather won a mountain in Medellin, Colombia, in a card game, and the family has grown coffee on it ever since. The roasting runs on a Loring air roaster visible to customers on roasting days, and the sourcing emphasizes relationship coffee from Colombia, Ethiopia, and Nicaragua. All packaging is designed by Penge based artist Rosie Lovelock, with unique mask illustrations inspired by the carnival theme. The operation extends into collaborations with local breweries on specialty coffee beers and cycle deliveries across south east London.
