What is the Pacamara coffee varietal?
Pacamara is a hybrid varietal created from a cross between Pacas and Maragogipe. The Salvadoran Institute of Coffee Research (ISIC) began its development through an incomplete pedigree selection programme, aiming to combine Pacas’ adaptability with the large bean size of Maragogipe.
It is grown primarily in El Salvador, where it has gained international recognition for its cup quality, frequently dominating Cup of Excellence competitions. Pacamara often produces complex, fruit-forward profiles with notable sweetness and body, making it one of the region’s most sought-after varieties.
A related varietal, Maracaturra, likely emerged in Nicaragua from a natural cross between Caturra and Maragogipe. Although early selections were made in the 1970s, political upheaval prevented its full stabilisation, leaving Pacamara as the more established and widely recognised of the two.