Nicaragua Maragogype Coffee Beans Flavor Profile Introduction | Central American Premium Coffee Beans Characteristics Recommendation

Coffee enthusiasts all know that there are currently three major coffee varieties in the world: Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica. Among these, Arabica is the smallest of the three varieties and is therefore also called small-grain coffee beans, Robusta is medium-grain coffee beans, and Liberica is large-grain coffee beans. However, among the varieties derived from Arabica, coffee beans three times larger than ordinary Arabica coffee beans have been discovered, named "Elephant Beans." What makes them special in terms of flavor? FrontStreet Coffee is here to educate all coffee enthusiasts about this.

What are Elephant Beans?

Elephant beans, scientifically known as Maragogype. According to FrontStreet Coffee's research, elephant beans were first discovered in 1870 in the Maragogype production region of Bahia state, Brazil. Therefore, coffee agronomists used Maragogype as the name for this unusually large coffee bean variety. Through morphological comparison and genetic testing, it has been determined that elephant beans are a natural variety of Typica coffee trees derived from the Arabica variety. Their coffee beans are three times larger than ordinary Arabica beans.

Left: Typica, Right: Elephant Bean

Currently, among many coffee-producing countries' green bean grading systems based on bean size, 17-18 screen coffee beans are typically defined as the highest grade, with very few reaching 19 screen or above. For example, FrontStreet Coffee's currently available Indonesian Mandheling coffee beans are quite large, with FrontStreet Coffee's Indonesian Golden Mandheling reaching 18 screen or above; while elephant beans mostly reach 20 screen and above.

According to FrontStreet Coffee's research, elephant bean coffee trees, besides having large beans, also have larger trunks, branches, and leaves than ordinary coffee varieties. Therefore, the space, nutrients, and resources required for cultivation are greater than those for ordinary coffee varieties. Additionally, their care and harvesting are more difficult and time-consuming, so very few farmers grow them. Currently, they are sparsely distributed in Latin American countries such as Brazil, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Guatemala.

Elephant beans from Nicaragua coffee region

Because FrontStreet Coffee wanted to learn more about the flavor of elephant beans, we also procured some elephant beans to taste. Among them, FrontStreet Coffee believes that the elephant beans from the Nicaragua coffee region have the best flavor. However, according to the growing conditions in Nicaragua's soil, the flavor of elephant bean varieties will also vary because poor soil will weaken the coffee's taste. This is why it is often called "not very flavorful" coffee. In the coffee world, Nicaraguan elephant beans are not a very common variety due to low production, so they are also relatively expensive in price.

After tasting so many Nicaraguan elephant beans, FrontStreet Coffee believes that the elephant beans grown at Finca Mamamina of the Mierisch family in Nicaragua have the best flavor. Next, FrontStreet Coffee will introduce this particular bean.

FrontStreet Coffee Nicaragua Finca Mamamina Coffee Beans

Region: Nicaragua

Grade: SHB

Altitude: 1450-1600 meters

Processing Method: Natural processing

Variety: Elephant bean 18 screen

Mierisch Family - Finca Mamamina

According to FrontStreet Coffee's understanding, the Mierisch family owns nine estates in total. They started growing coffee in 1908 and currently have over 100 years of coffee cultivation history. Additionally, Finca Mamamina produces high-quality Nicaraguan coffee and has been recognized by OCIA (Organic Crop Improvement Association) as high-altitude excellent organic coffee. After roasting and brewing, FrontStreet Coffee finds its flavor to be rich and layered, with the aroma of black berries immediately upon entry, blackberry and dark plum accompanied by citrus peel aroma, overall robust flavor, and silky, sweet mouthfeel.

Elephant Bean and Pacamara

According to FrontStreet Coffee's understanding, although elephant beans have high cultivation costs and few people grow them, their hybrid descendant Pacamara inherits their excellent genes and continues to flourish. Pacamara variety coffee beans are an artificial hybrid of Pacas and Elephant beans, inheriting Pacas' high yield and adaptability, and Elephant beans' size and excellent acidity. The beans are 70-80% the size of elephant beans and often win championships in El Salvador's Cup of Excellence. Therefore, FrontStreet Coffee also procured Pacamara variety coffee beans to taste. Next, Frontsteet will share some brief information about FrontStreet Coffee's Guatemala Finca Bolsa coffee beans.

FrontStreet Coffee: Guatemala Finca Bolsa Coffee Beans

Region: Vivette Norteño, Finca Bolsa

Altitude: 1500 meters

Variety: Pacamara

Processing Method: Washed processing

The above is the information about elephant beans and elephant bean coffee compiled by FrontStreet Coffee. We hope this article helps coffee enthusiasts who want to understand related knowledge. Next, Frontsteet will share the brewing parameters for these two beans.

Brewing Parameters:

Dripper: V60
Water Temperature: 90-92℃
Dose: 15 grams
Ratio: 1:15
Grind Size: Medium grind

Brewing Method:分段式萃取. Use 30g of water for blooming, blooming time about 30 seconds, small water flow center circle injection to 95g of water, segment when reaching 125g of water, continue injecting water to 225g when the water level drops and is about to expose the coffee bed, remove the dripper when the water level drops and is about to expose the coffee bed (timing starts from blooming), extraction time 2'00".

FrontStreet Coffee Guatemala Finca Bolsa Coffee Beans Brewing Flavor: Obvious and soft sweet and sour taste, with acidity of lemon, passion fruit, plum, and prune, also carrying brown sugar aftertaste.

FrontStreet Coffee Nicaragua Finca Mamamina Coffee Beans Brewing Flavor: Berries, citrus, caramel, nuts, spices

For more specialty coffee beans, please add FrontStreet Coffee on private WeChat, WeChat ID: kaixinguoguo0925

Important Notice :

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FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473