European Office Abdijhof 15,
6834 EE Arnhem,
The Netherlands, EU
Email info@casalabranza.coffee
Mob. +31(0)6 40 06 73 29
KvK. 88068838
Montesion coffee
Montesion is a three-generation, family-owned, business that began in 1907 with the production of green coffee beans. As part of our mission to produce high-quality products and care for the environment, we began to venture into the road that would lead us on to the road that would lead us to Sustainable Agriculture and Specialty Coffees by the end of the twentieth century. By 2002 we had already began exporting to different parts of the world under the brand name: Monte Sion. Our coffee is from the Arabica-Bourbon variety, dried in the shade in the “Cordillera de Apaneca” mountain range in the Western Region of El Salvador, an area recognized for having a favorable microclimate for growing coffee. Our farms form part of the Meso-American Biological Corridor, which provides refuge to many species of Neo-tropical Migrant birds that fly to the tropics to resist the cold weather. Aware of the environmental degradation and social problems that our country faces, we have been committed to the preservation of the environment and the welfare of our workers through sustainable agriculture.
Quality
The quality of coffee is obtained through the integration of different processes.
- Variety – Our main variety is the Arabica Bourbon, which is believed to be one of the first coffee varieties and is characterized as being complex, aromatic and with a good body. Our company has its own nursery where the best coffee beans are produced.
- Healthy soil – Our farms are made up of rich volcanic soils, which helps maintain the humidity in the soil. We have a permanent program designed to maintain a balanced PH level and sufficient calcium and magnesium in our soil, thus guaranteeing the coffee quality.
- Micro-climate – The coffee forest grown in the shade is shade and has mild winds that provide more sweetness to the coffee.
- Proper fertilization – Through soil and leaf analysis a ground and foliar fertilization plan is developed. Trees are fed with the nutrients it will need during the three stages of its annual production cycle.
- Integrated Plague Control – We try to control plagues in an organic manner through organic traps and products. We use chemical products as our last resource, taking the proper precautions to exclude any Dirty Dozen pesticide products.
- Careful cherry selection – Cherries are picked at a ripe stage. Any unripe, over-ripe, dry or green cherries are sorted out and separated from the ripe cherries.
- Same day processing – coffee is handpicked and sent on the same day to be processed at the mill, thus avoiding any anticipated fermentation that could damage the cup quality.
- Uniform drying techniques – Coffee is sun-dried in patios, spread out in thin layers and moved constantly to obtain a uniform drying. Our Premium quality Coffees are sun-dried using a combination of patios and African beds.
Farms
Monte Sion Estate
Apaneca Mountain Range, Cerro Cachio, El Salvador
Number of hectares: 35.70
Temperature: 15 º – 30 ºC
Altitude: 1,250 – 1,400 masl
Annual Rainfall: 3,200 – 3,500 mm
Harvest season: December – February
Certification: Rainforest Alliance
Manantiales Estate
Apaneca Mountain Range, Cerro Cachio, El Salvador
Number of hectares: 8.75
Temperature: 15º – 24º
Altitude: 1,400 – 1,500 masl
Annual Rainfall: 3,000 – 3,200 mm
Harvest season: January – March
Cielito Lindo Estate
Apaneca Mountain Range, Cerro Cachio, El Salvador
Number of hectares: 14
Temperature: 15º – 30º
Altitude: 1,300 – 1,400 masl
Annual Rainfall: 3,000 – 3,200 mm
Harvest season: December – March
Shekinah Estate
Apaneca Mountain Range, Cantón San Juan de Dios, El Salvador
Number of hectares: 13.72
Temperature: 13º – 28º
Altitude: 1,500 – 1,700 masl
Annual Rainfall: 3,200 – 3,450 mm
Harvest season: December – March
Florencia Estate
Apaneca Mountain Range, Cantón Anonal, El Salvador
Number of hectares: 14.35
Temperature: 25º
Altitude: 1,200 – 1,250 masl
Annual Rainfall: 3,000 – 3,200 mm
Harvest season: December – February
Shalom Estate
Apaneca Mountain Range, Canton Chipilapa, El Salvador
Number of hectares: 68.95
Temperature: 21º – 40º
Altitude: 900 masl
Annual Rainfall: 2,950 – 3,175 mm
Harvest season: November – January
Product
Green Coffee
Honey
A very strong body, with an intense sweetness, perceived with a prolonged taste of sweet notes and a very clean cup.
Top of Top
A well-balanced coffee with a moderate body whose smoothness increases as the cup cools down. Enjoy its accents of fresh fruits, sweet chocolate notes and pungent and pleasant acidity.
Gourmet
A cup filled with chocolate and caramel notes that you will enjoy, with a sweet flavour, strong body and a nice balance throughout its hot and cold stages.
SHG
Good taste, softness and mild acidity.
Roasted Coffee
Our roasted coffee has been carefully packed in special bags containing a degassing valve that helps preserve its quality. Both variations can be obtained as whole bean and ground coffee.
Gourmet
Sweet and pleasant taste with a good acidity.
House-blend
Clean cup with mild acidity coffee.
Commitment
Environmentally friendly
El Salvador is one of the most deforested countries in the world; therefore, its coffee forest plays an important role in the preservation of wildlife, migrant bids and oxygen production. In order to protect the environment our company takes particular care in the products it uses for its fertilization and pest-control programs. Whenever possible organic products are used and are only combined with chemical products that are not hazardous to the environment. Among some of the organic fertilizers that are used in our farms we can mention the pulp, pulp juice and cultured Californian worms bi-products. These products provide humic and fulvic acids to the soil and thus have a positive effect on the production and quality of coffee. As an organic pest-control we use the NIM seed. This is a natural product that is transformed into a liquid substance, which repels insects away from the coffee trees with its smell. Tea-leaf products are used as organic fungicides and finally Bamboo traps are set up throughout the coffee forest as a way to control insects that could be harmful to the tree.
Insects, animals and plants are important to the environment. To protect them we make sure that no hunting is allowed in the farms and no chemicals are applied that contaminate the environment. If we are able to protect the environment we will diminish the causes of global warming that the world is facing. A research study done by Rainforest Alliance between the years 2008 and 2010 in the Monte Sion Estate farm confirmed that 37% of the birds in the farm were migrant birds that would not be able to reach their destination if there was no forest in that area. Several species were identified living in our farms that were threatened or in danger of extinction. Preservation of the environment is everyone’s job; we invite you to support those companies similar to ours that are fighting for a green planet.
Community relations
Café Monte Sión takes an active role in the progress of the communities where our farms reside. Through its non-profit organization named “Fundación MonteSión Nuevo Amanecer” it has developed a program designed to provide proper health care to its workers and their families. Among the activities that have been developed we can mention:
Medical Controls – medical campaigns are organized periodically throughout the year. Medical specialists such as eye doctors, dental doctors, gynaecologists, cardiologists, internal medicine and neurologists, pay attention to local families and provide them free medical care and medicines.
Vitamin supplements – on a monthly basis vitamins and proteins are given to workers and their families. Special care is given to the elderly, children, infants and pregnant women.
Food supplies – Provision of food is given to promote a healthy balanced diet. Supplies include soy products, dry fruits, beans, rice and canned products. There are also lectures on the importance of hygiene at the time of preparing meals.
Housing.
- Houses of workers that living inside our farms have been built with bricks instead of mud, thus reducing health problems such as “chagas disease”.
- They have also been equipped with water tanks and filters for water consumption.
- An ecological stove that uses very little wood and produces very little smoke has been installed for food preparation. These stoves not only reduce the chance of getting respiratory problems but also contribute to the preservation of the environment.
- Solar panels have been installed in houses were electricity is unavailable. This considerably reduces expenses and reduces the risk of fires.
Clothing. Every family is provided regularly with clothing, footwear and other essentials.
Education.
- Scholarships are available for those looking to pursue a technical degree or learn a new skill.
- Leadership programs are given once a year, workers are given lectures that will help them develop skills such as teamwork, leadership, organization, etc.
- Financial Skills- Conferences on the importance of knowing how to handle personal finances are provided to top management. In turn who they are in charge of counselling the rest of the workers.
Spiritual Lectures. We consider this area very important and on a permanent basis we provide material that will help people have inner peace.
A percentage of Coffee Sales goes into “Fundacion MonteSion Nuevo Amanecer”. In addition we work with donations received by people, companies and buyers. Donations can be monetary kind, in the form of supplies such as medicines, clothing, equipment, food, etc. If you would like to join our effort to promote social well-being please contact us at fundacion@montesion.com.sv
Recognition
 | Named by the International Chamber of Commerce of the United Nations “Role model company of how to fight poverty in El Salvador” (2003-2004) |
 | 1st place Rainforest Alliance to the best green coffee. Farm: Shekinah (2005) |
 | Cup of Excellence Award. Farm: Monte Sion (2006) |
 | 2nd Place Best Bourbon Coffee in El Salvador. Farm: Monte Sion (2006) |
 | Coffee Producer of the Year, for its innovation, technology and quality (2006) |
| 1st Place Rainforest Alliance quality award for sustainable coffees in El Salvador. Farm: Monte Sion (2009) |
| 10th Place Rainforest Alliance quality award for sustainable coffees worldwide. Farm: Monte Sion (2009) |
| 3rd Place Rainforest Alliance quality award for sustainable coffees in El Salvador. Farm: Monte Sion (2012) |
General pictures
Montesion has the next coffee variations:
| Green coffee | |
| MON-01 | Honey |
| MON-02 | Top of top |
| MON-03 | Gourmet |
| MON-04 | SHG |
| Roasted coffee | |
| MON-05 | Gourmet |
| MON-06 | House blend |
Dear Coffee Factory, Wholesale representative or coffee roaster. The coffee prices are determined with each crop. If you would like to receive more information about the brands or the coffee variations, about price offers, crop reservations, a special demand growing and payment conditions, please fill in the form below: