tags: [] - coffee/geography - coffee/geography/central-america - coffee/geography/el-salvador aliases: - Alotepec-Metapán coffee - Metapán coffee El Salvador - Northwestern El Salvador coffee - Santa Ana highlands coffee created: 2026-05-14 updated: 2026-05-14

Alotepec-Metapán Coffee Region¶

Tags: #coffee/geography #coffee/geography/central-america #coffee/geography/el-salvador Aliases: Alotepec-Metapán coffee, Metapán coffee El Salvador, Northwestern El Salvador coffee, Santa Ana highlands coffee Related: El Salvador MOC | El Salvador | Apaneca-Ilamatepec Coffee Region | Chalatenango Coffee Region | Washed Process Status: ✅ Complete

Overview¶

Alotepec-Metapán is El Salvador's smallest and most northwesterly coffee region, located in the Santa Ana and Chalatenango departments near the Guatemalan and Honduran borders at altitudes of 900–2,418 metres. The region encompasses part of the Montecristo-El Trifinio Biosphere Reserve — a UNESCO-recognised international cloud forest reserve shared between El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras — at its highest elevations. The zone is the most remote and least commercially developed of El Salvador's six regions, but its extreme altitudes (Cerro Montecristo reaching 2,418 m is the highest point in the country) create conditions for some of El Salvador's most distinctive and fresh cup profiles.

Geography and Terrain¶

Alotepec-Metapán encompasses the mountain terrain of northwestern Santa Ana and southern Chalatenango near the tri-border point with Guatemala and Honduras. Cerro Montecristo (2,418 m) — El Salvador's highest point, shared with Guatemala and Honduras in the Trifinio Biosphere Reserve — anchors the upper zone. The Metapán highlands extend southward, with coffee cultivation on the slopes between 900 and approximately 2,000 metres.

The soils are older sedimentary and volcanic Inceptisols and Andosols on the highland ranges. The cloud forest reserve on the upper slopes provides unique shade and moisture conditions for the highest-altitude farms.

Farming Systems¶

Small-scale farming in a remote highland zone. The proximity to the international biosphere reserve creates both ecological constraints and potential for environmental certification. Production volume is the smallest of El Salvador's six regions.

Processing¶

Farm-level washed processing. Limited infrastructure compared to the western and central zones.

Varieties¶

Bourbon and Pacas. The extreme altitude of the upper zone creates conditions for very slow cherry maturation.

Cup Profile¶

Alotepec-Metapán washed Bourbon (1,500–2,000 m): fresh, clean; mild florals, stone fruit, bright citrus acidity; lighter body than Santa Ana volcanic lots; delicate and elegant. The cloud forest microclimate at the highest altitudes produces a fresh, cool-climate character that distinguishes these lots. SCA 83–87 for quality altitude lots; limited volume available.

Key Facts¶

Northwestern El Salvador; Santa Ana/Chalatenango near tri-border; 900–2,418 m altitude
El Salvador's smallest coffee zone by production volume
Cerro Montecristo (2,418 m, El Salvador's highest point): Trifinio Biosphere Reserve (El Salvador/Guatemala/Honduras)
Remote; limited infrastructure; cloud forest microclimate influence at upper altitudes
Dominant varieties: Bourbon, Pacas
Profile: fresh, clean, florals, bright citrus; delicate cool-climate character; smallest volume

References¶

This article is part of All-About-Coffee.com - The comprehensive coffee knowledgebase.