El Salvador Cup of Excellence #2 Natural | 9 Score (4 or 12 cups)

Finca El Ángel’s SL28 coffee tells the story of its volcanic home. Grown at 5,413 feet in the Apaneca-Ilamatepec region of El Salvador, the beans thrive in mineral-rich soils under a climate of intense daily temperature swings. Processed naturally, this coffee has already earned 2nd place in the Cup of Excellence with a score of 91.45, a remarkable achievement for a farm in just its second harvest.

The cup reflects the care and precision of Rafael’s work, revealing layers of dark chocolate, honey, floral notes, mango, spice, vanilla, and melon. Each sip captures the unique character of the land, from the heat of the days to the cool mountain nights. Finca El Ángel is still young, yet it has already proven it can deliver a coffee that surprises and delights with every harvest. This coffee is more than flavor; it is the story of a farm, its land, and the farmer who has poured his heart into making it extraordinary.

Born into a coffee family with more than 150 years of history, Rafael Gerardo Silva Esteves has always known coffee would shape his life. After years managing his father’s farms, he spent five years searching for land that matched his vision and in December 2022 founded Finca El Ángel on the slopes of the Santa Ana volcano.

Overlooking Santa Ana city on one side and Coatepeque Lake on the other, the farm thrives in rich volcanic soil with a climate defined by warm days and cool nights. Though the land had only recently been cleared and planted with specialty varieties, Rafael quickly transformed it into a model of precision and passion. By its second year, Finca El Ángel was already earning Cup of Excellence recognition, a testament to Rafael’s dedication and the land’s potential.

Today he continues to refine the farm’s five existing varieties while preparing to plant Sidra and Caturra Chiroso. Every decision reflects his lifelong pursuit of excellence and his belief that great coffee begins with great care.

The Cup of Excellence is the most prestigious coffee competition, identifying the finest coffees through rigorous evaluation. Thousands are submitted, but only a handful per country earn the coveted name. These rare, top-scoring coffees are then auctioned to the highest bidders—an honor few U.S. roasters achieve. Yet, Angelino’s has done just that. For the first time ever, we’re bringing you the best coffees in the world, each crowned a Cup of Excellence in its country. Now, they’re yours to experience.

Follow our brew guide on to get the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime coffee experience.