Table of contents
Pacas
$ Varies
| Flavor | Balanced acidity and bitterness, very slight sweetness and hints of cocoa |
| Grown In | Central America |
Pacas Arabica is a natural mutation of Bourbon, which is a variety of Arabica beans themselves. found in El Salvador in 1949. Common in Central America, it has good but not exceptional quality and is highly susceptible to leaf rust and other diseases. A hybrid of Pacas and Maragogype is called Pacamara, it is famous for its giant grain size and excellent taste.
Pacas coffee grows on stocky compact trees with green leaves. Grain size is medium, about the same as Caturra, and smaller than SL28. Best of all, the potential of the variety is revealed in fruits grown at an altitude of 5,200 feet above sea level (with distance from the Equator, it decreases to 3,200 feet).
The first crop can be harvested three years after planting, coffee plantations are in moderate need of additional fertilization. The recommended planting density is 5-6 thousand trees per hectare. The variety feels good in difficult weather conditions, it is able to survive both a drop in temperature and heat and even a lack of water.
We can point out the following facts regarding Pacas coffee:
The history of Pacas like other coffee beans is really interesting. Pacas is practically the “brother” of the Brazilian Caturra and the Costa Rican Villa Sarchi coffee since all three are the result of a natural mutation of Bourbon. Due to a genetic disorder, Pacas dwarf trees are significantly smaller than their “parent”. Actually, this is the main advantage of the variety – due to its compact size, it can be planted denser, the plantation brings more grain and money.
Pacas Arabica is so compact that it can even be grown in a pot at home. Some sources claim that Pacas produces a good harvest – apparently, only in comparison with Bourbon and due to dense planting, since the variety itself is medium-yielding.
Pacas was named after the owner of the farm with a new type of coffee – Don Francisco Pacas (according to another version, his name was Fernando).
Despite the fact that the first samples of this Arabica were discovered in 1949, work on breeding Pacas began only in 1960. In 1974, the variety came to Honduras, from where it spread to neighboring countries. Right now Pacas is mainly found in El Salvador, a country in Latin America.
It is generally a known fact that when it comes to certain coffee beans, not every brewing method is suitable, as it could disrupt the overall aroma and taste of a particular coffee. When it comes to Pacas beans, which have very specific characteristics and features, unlike other ones you can not use every brewing method. Of course, you would still have a cup of coffee ready but without its best qualities. We advise you to follow the 2 methods which are Lungo (the traditional method) and Mocha (this one enhances natural flavors).
Lungo is a very common way to brew coffee in America, and it suits these beans perfectly due to their taste profiles and aroma. Lungo is an “elongated” espresso and the opposite of ristretto. The name of the drink is translated from Italian as “long”.
Lungo turns out to be less concentrated and lighter when using Pacas coffee beans. Due to the greater extraction, lungo can acquire a bitter taste. However, this can be avoided by using lightly roasted Pacas coffee beans.
Learn How To Make A Great Lungo
With mocha, the already existing chocolate flavor is enhanced by the added cocoa. The process of making a cup of coffee is very fast. Once you have heated the water, the brewing process will take no more than 5 minutes (a little longer if you have an induction cooker). For this reason, the Mocha method is suitable for Pacas beans.
If the infusion is too weak/watery, the grind is too coarse and the extraction is not complete. The coffee is too bitter – the grind is too fine. After you make the coffee you will get a strong drink with a pretty good taste.
If you have read this article so far, it is natural that you want to know where to buy Pacas coffee. We have done thorough research and unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to buy Pacas coffee beans online nowadays, especially on Amazon. But don’t worry – If you want to get the closest taste to Pacas, then it is the best idea to just go for either El Salvador beans or Bourbon beans directly.
