About Plan del Hoyo
Coffee producer Francisco R.R. de Sola wasn’t originally into coffee agriculture. In fact, he worked for the Sola Group for 48 years, investing in a wide range of services and products across El Salvador. It was in 2015, just before retirement, that he decided to plant coffee in Plan del Hoyo, with assistance from the El Salvador Agricultural Department. The farm’s history and Francisco R.R.’s journey are closely tied to decades of agricultural and land-use transitions.
The farm land was originally purchased by his father, Francisco de Sola Maduro, in 1957, and was primarily used for Angus cattle, along with small-scale fruit and bird production. However, Francisco R.R. and his sister Susana were forced to sell the cattle and leave El Salvador when the civil war broke out in 1980.
After the peace accords were signed, Francisco R.R. returned to take leadership of the farm and shifted its focus to wood production. The story of Plan del Hoyo continued evolving, and in 2005 the eruption of the Lamatepec (Santa Ana) volcano forced further diversification of crops.
His most recent endeavor was the cultivation of coffee beginning in 2015, and his work has been recognized by roasters ever since. If you need proof of this farm’s value, look to the 2023 COE results. Francisco R.R. views improvements in quality and production as two separate priorities and continuously strives to advance both.
Plan del Hoyo is widely regarded as an exceptionally beautiful farm and a retreat from city life. Francisco R.R. and Susana often invite roasters to visit and experience the work they have built over not just their coffee years, but their full agricultural history.
Cup of Excellence Achievements
| Year
|
Award / Placement
|
Variety & Process Profile
|
Highlight
|
| 2025
|
5th Place
|
Geisha, Natural
|
With a score of 88.46, this Natural Geisha lot stood out for its refined processing and high-elevation clarity.
|
| 2024
|
7th Place
|
Geisha, Lavado
|
With a score of 88.46, this Washed Geisha stood out for its refined complexity and clarity at high elevation.
|
| 2024
|
7th Place
|
Sl28 , Natural
|
With a score of 88.30, this natural SL28 lot delivered vibrant fruit complexity and expressive clarity.
|
| 2023
|
8th Place
|
Sl28 , Natural
|
First widely recognized COE ranking for Plan del Hoyo under Francisco R.R. de Sola; Score: 89.25 (strong top-10 national result).
|
| 2021
|
24th Place
|
Sl28 , Honey
|
First widely recognized COE ranking for Plan del Hoyo under Francisco R.R. de Sola; Score: 89.25 (strong top-10 national result).
|