tags: [] - coffee/geography - coffee/geography/central-america - coffee/geography/el-salvador aliases: - Cacahuatique coffee - Morazán coffee El Salvador - Eastern El Salvador coffee - Cacahuatique-Morazán coffee created: 2026-05-14 updated: 2026-05-14

Cacahuatique Coffee Region¶

Tags: #coffee/geography #coffee/geography/central-america #coffee/geography/el-salvador Aliases: Cacahuatique coffee, Morazán coffee El Salvador, Eastern El Salvador coffee, Cacahuatique-Morazán coffee Related: El Salvador MOC | El Salvador | Chinameca Coffee Region | Washed Process Status: ✅ Complete

Overview¶

Cacahuatique (officially Cacahuatique-Morazán) is El Salvador's eastern highland coffee zone, located in the Morazán department at altitudes of 900–1,500 metres. The region is one of El Salvador's smaller producing zones by specialty significance, with a cup profile that is softer and less structured than the western highland regions. The Cacahuatique mountain range — rising to approximately 1,700 metres — anchors the growing zone. Morazán department was also significantly affected by the civil war, with the FMLN maintaining strongholds in the highlands throughout the conflict, which similarly preserved older tree stock in the zone.

Geography and Terrain¶

Morazán department occupies the eastern highlands of El Salvador, bordering Honduras to the north and east. The terrain is mountainous but less volcanically active than the western zone; the soils are older volcanic and sedimentary Inceptisols with moderate fertility. The Torola and Sapo rivers drain the zone toward the Lempa and Pacific systems.

Farming Systems¶

Smallholder farming communities, many of which were among the most marginalised during the civil war. Post-war agricultural reconstruction and cooperative development have been slower here than in the western highlands. Limited road infrastructure in some highland sub-zones constrains quality management.

Processing¶

Farm-level and small cooperative wet mills. Processing quality is variable; the zone lacks the density of high-quality wet mill infrastructure found in Apaneca-Ilamatepec.

Varieties¶

Bourbon and Pacas are the primary varieties. Civil war farm abandonment similarly preserved older tree stock here.

Cup Profile¶

Cacahuatique washed Bourbon (900–1,400 m): soft, mild; chocolate, caramel, mild stone fruit; low-medium acidity; medium body. A gentler, more commercial profile than the western zones. SCA 79–83 for standard lots; better altitude sub-zones 82–85.

Key Facts¶

Eastern highlands; Morazán department; 900–1,500 m altitude
Borders Honduras; remote terrain; slower post-war reconstruction than western zones
Civil war FMLN stronghold area; older tree stock preservation
Dominant varieties: Bourbon, Pacas
Profile: soft, mild, chocolate/caramel; commercial tier; less intensity than western zones

References¶

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