They say the heart always returns to where it belongs, and for the Morales family that truth carried them back to the high reaches of the Alotepeque mountains. Decades earlier, Henri Milton Morales Umaña’s father had lost their land during the civil war in El Salvador. Uprooted from the mountains, Henri and his family spent their childhood years building a new life in the city of Metapán. But the memory of what was lost never faded.
Years later, Henri made the journey back. It was more than a return. It was an act of remembrance, a way to honor his father’s dream while creating a future for his family and the community around him. From this commitment, Finca Los Morales was born, a farm framed by the lush Nebuloso Montecristo forest. On this land, Henri cultivates both native and exotic coffee varieties including Geisha, Pacamara, and Kenyas, each nurtured in soil and climate perfectly suited to the crop.
For the Morales family, the farm is not just rows of trees and ripening cherries. It represents resilience, a bridge between past and present, and a promise that even regions once left behind can flourish again. Each harvest is a reflection of Henri’s dedication, a story told in every cup of coffee that leaves the farm.
Among these coffees is Los Morales Geisha, a lot that embodies both the passion of its producer and the unique character of its place. Grown at 5,905 feet, this coffee benefits from volcanic soil, cool mountain air, and the attentive care of the Morales family. Every January, only the ripest cherries are picked by hand, ensuring that quality begins from the very first step. Processing takes place on the family’s own mill, where small pulpers, solar drying tunnels, and raised African beds provide the tools to guide each stage with patience and precision.
Henri and his team experiment with natural and honey processes, as well as longer anaerobic fermentations lasting up to 72 hours. Depending on the weather, drying can extend from 30 to 40 days, a slow and careful method that preserves each layer of flavor. This attention results in a coffee of rare clarity and depth.
Los Morales’ Geisha scored an outstanding 91.80, offering a cup alive with notes of vanilla, apricot, stone fruit, and earl grey, warmed by a subtle touch of cinnamon. Its silky brightness and lingering finish make each sip a reminder of the journey that brought it into being. More than just coffee, it is a celebration of heritage, resilience, and a family’s return to the land that first defined them.
