Nicaragua Estate Coffee Prices _ Nicaragua Coffee Varieties Guide _ Are Nicaragua Coffee Beans Expensive

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Geographic Overview of Nicaragua

Central America refers to the central region of the American continent between Mexico to the south and Colombia to the north. It borders the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, serving as the narrow land bridge connecting South America and North America. It includes 7 countries: Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

Nicaragua is located in the central region of Central America, bordering Honduras to the north, Costa Rica to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west, with a total area of 130,400 square kilometers.

The north-central part of Nicaragua consists of highlands; the eastern part is coastal plains with dense jungle swamps and low, flat terrain; the western part consists of coastal lowlands with numerous volcanoes and lakes to their east.

The Nicaraguan plains experience high temperatures and abundant rainfall, featuring a tropical marine climate. The western coastal lowlands receive significantly less precipitation than the eastern region, with distinct dry and wet seasons, characterizing a tropical savanna climate. The central highlands have an average annual temperature of 18°C and annual precipitation of 1500-2500 millimeters, with the rainy season lasting from May to December.

Nicaraguan Coffee: Quality and Characteristics

Nicaragua is one of the major coffee-producing countries, producing coffee of exceptional quality. The coffee quality from several Central American coffee-producing countries including Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua are quite similar, primarily due to comparable weather conditions, soil fertility, and cultivation altitudes.

Nicaraguan coffee beans are cultivated in an exceptionally favorable environment, with widespread fertile volcanic ash soil and shade-growing practices establishing excellent production quality. Nicaraguan coffee possesses rich body and delicate aromas, with moderate acidity and an excellent balance of pleasant bitterness and sweet aftertaste, regarded as premium by international coffee connoisseurs.

High-quality Nicaraguan coffee beans rank among the world's finest and enjoy an excellent reputation. They have medium-sized beans, mild flavor, and are wonderfully aromatic and full-bodied.

Coffee is the pillar industry of Nicaragua, producing nearly 100,000 tons of coffee beans annually. Many who have tasted Nicaraguan coffee typically find it similar to Salvadoran and Honduran coffee. It has rich aroma, smooth and delicate texture, with a slightly bitter aftertaste reminiscent of subtle notes found in wine.

The finest Nicaraguan coffee beans come from the Matagalpa region. Coffee produced here is highly esteemed by coffee enthusiasts worldwide and gradually gaining recognition in the specialty coffee community. Abundant rainfall, suitable temperatures, high altitude, and fertile soil create an exceptional cultivation ecosystem that establishes the foundation for Nicaragua's high-quality coffee.

Challenges and Processing Methods

Nicaragua is an economically underdeveloped agricultural nation and one of the poorest countries in Central America, with high unemployment rates and widespread poverty among its people. Coffee serves as Nicaragua's pillar industry, producing nearly 100,000 tons of coffee beans annually. Due to poor economic foundations, the coffee industry remains relatively underdeveloped, and coffee farmers continue to live in impoverished conditions. Although Nicaragua possesses a large land area in Central America, it is not a major producer in the coffee world. Compared to its neighbor Costa Rica, both production volume and reputation are considerably weaker. However, high-quality Nicaraguan coffee ranks among the world's finest and enjoys an excellent reputation.

Traditional Nicaraguan coffee farmers have been accustomed to using the washed processing method for subsequent coffee fruit processing. Farmers prefer the washed method to ensure more stable and cleaner flavors in the green coffee beans. It wasn't until around 2009 that farmers' traditional perspectives began to change, with more regions experimenting with processing methods such as full natural and honey processing.

The exquisitely flavored coffee beans presented before us represent the meticulous dedication of producers throughout every stage—from harvesting, cultivation, and processing methods to later packaging and transportation. In the process of transforming coffee into the beverage in our cups, we should also treat it with equal care and attention.

The Java Nica Variety: A Revived Legend

The Java variety was once endangered but was successfully reintroduced in Nicaragua. It originates from the Java Long Berry variety from Indonesia's Java island, where this variety can still be found, though in limited quantities. Due to poor disease resistance, local farms have gradually shifted to cultivating other varieties. The Java variety resembles Typica in appearance, with most specimens being short-bean varieties, while long-bean varieties are rarer. Despite its rarity, the variety offers clean and delicate flavors. In 2008, Nicaraguan Java won second place in the national Cup of Excellence competition. Nicaraguan Java满足了 multiple requirements: limited quantity, excellent flavor, and a compelling story!

One day in 2001, Erwin and his father drove to visit the owner of the纪律庄园 (Discipline Estate) to seek advice on agricultural practices and processing methods. On their return journey, passing by the experimental station of Unicafa (Nicaragua's coffee producer organization), someone attempted to flag down their car. Erwin said he wanted to drive away without stopping, but his father insisted on pulling over to see if help was needed. It turned out this person worked at the experimental station, which had been forced to close due to funding shortages. The station had no cash to provide severance pay, giving him only a bag of seeds and several worn-out shovels. Out of desperation, he flagged them down and asked: "Could you help me? Buy the seeds and tools that the laboratory gave me?" Erwin's father agreed generously without hesitation.

Erwin said he didn't think much of his father's kind gesture at the time. The bag of seeds was marked with "Java" on the outside, but it didn't arouse much curiosity, as the Java variety was unfamiliar to most Nicaraguan coffee farmers. Erwin didn't feel it was worth investing effort in an unknown variety.

After returning to their own estate, Erwin's father carefully examined these seeds and began sowing and nurturing seedlings. When the seedlings sprouted, one day father and son took the young plants to consult with a scholar from the 1980s experimental station. After careful examination, she confirmed that the variety Erwin and his father had unintentionally obtained was indeed Java. She said with great excitement: "Java is a magnificent variety, worthy of careful cultivation! It's important to note that yields are not high and disease resistance is poor, requiring meticulous care!" This marked the first successful cultivation and positive identification of Java in Nicaragua.

In 2007, Erwin entered the Nicaraguan Java variety in the following year's Cup of Excellence competition. In their first competition, they won second place in Nicaragua's national Cup of Excellence competition, with the bidding price even surpassing that year's champion. Nicaraguan Java became famous overnight, creating significant buzz in the coffee community.

Recommended Nicaraguan Coffee Brands

FrontStreet Coffee's roasted Nicaraguan coffee beans - Finca Esperanza Washed [Maracaturra] offer full guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, they provide exceptional value, with each 227-gram package priced at only 90 yuan. Calculating at 15 grams of coffee beans per cup, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, with each cup costing only about 6 yuan. Compared to cafés selling single cups for hundreds of yuan, this represents a truly conscientious recommendation.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known beans. They also provide online shop services: https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473