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"To get back to the warning that I received. You may take it with however many grains of salt that you wish. That the brown acid that is circulating around us isn't too good. It is suggested that you stay away from that. Of course it's your own trip. So be my guest, but please be advised that there is a warning on that one, ok?" Woodstock 1969 

When the famous words were echoed from the microphone to the crowd at Woodstock, the legend of Brown Acid was born. While the folklore of this drug and many others during this time of enchantment, it was hard to pin-down if the acid was actually good or bad. According to one very experienced attendee, the acid was so pure, people mistakenly took more than one hit. A fair number of these people where novices, inadvertently labeling their experience as a "bad trip", instead of just a very intense one. The resemblance between Brown Acid then and our version now shares a similar characteristic when it comes to purity.  

Released once, four years ago, Brown Acid is our answer to the common approach to third wave espresso: bright, clean and vibrant, blending similar cultivars, from the same country, but three different farms.

These three farms share similar care in farming and a beautiful mill where they process and dry. The largest factor in their differences are their degrees of fermentation: washed, semi washed and natural. Each coffee was strategically placed in this blend to bring out the best in each bean. 

We begin with sparkling washed beans from Santa Elena, an established farm in El Salvador, which commonly places in the Cup of Excellence, among other awards. With its particular style of processing, the semi washed bourbon from Las Nubes, contributes body and sweetness. Santa Josefita, on the conservative side of dry-processing, is a natural processed that brings juicy fruit and acidity to the blend. 

When sourcing coffee, DMC is fortunate enough to have relationships with some of the best coffee producers in the world. Having multiple farming partners brings varying styles of coffees, from cultivars to processing. Finca San Jeronimo Miramar in Guatemala is our partner that takes a more progressive approach, it's Federico Pacas in El Salvador that brings the classic Central American coffee that we love.

The Pacas family is known throughout the coffee industry as royalty, with genetics, processing techniques that are second to none. Federico Pacas owns Cafe Tuxpal, a mill that processes his farms Santa Petrona, San Jose, Vista Hermosa in addition to other neighboring farms. DMC will feature several of his family's Pacas cultivars again for 2017, Pacas Joven, Pacas Viejo, etc.  

The relationship with Federico Pacas is the oldest farming partnership for DMC, allowing a wealth of knowledge and coffees to grace our cups. Like any long relationship, the learning process and information shared helps both Federico & DMC to evolve and grow. It's always a pleasure to visit with Federico at his farms, but it's even more special when we get him to visit us in Chicago. (That only happens during the warm months though :)

Nuevo Pacas Joven en Finca San Jose Sonsonate! (New Pacas Joven plants) 
These little guys look so great in the newly rehabilitated Finca San Jose. Federico Pacas replanted his namesake cultivar in place of the classic Salvadoran Red Bourbon. Times they are a changing!

Every year Cafe Tuxpal continues to upgrade and innovate their processing method at the mill. New developments with how they wash coffees have been incredible to witness. Photo Aaron Campos

Federico Pacas & Jesse Diaz, two men leading a coffee revolution! 

Driving home from the fields, enjoy other beautiful sunset in El Salvador!