La Esperanza
This is the first coffee we’ve used from Nicaragua, and although it’s late in the season, it’s holding up very well on the cupping table. Until recently farmers from Nicaragua have not been able to export their coffee individually as single estates. In the past coffees were branded by big export mills and farms lost their traceability. This situation has now changed and we are now able to source coffees from individual farms.
| Farm | La Esperanza |
| Owner | Luis Alberto Balladrez Moncada |
| Altitude | 1400 to 1650m |
| Varietal | Red catuai |
| Processing | Fully washed |
| Location | Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua |
Nueva Segovia is one of the main coffee growing regions in Nicaragua, and La Esperanza is situated in the western part of this region, a short distance from Ocotal. The farms covers 40 hectares with 20 of these being set aside for coffee growing. The vegetation on the farm is a combination of natural occuring threes, as well as those planted to increase shade for the coffee plants. The farm is situated at an altitude, of between 1400 and 1650m above sea level.
The farm grows a number of different coffee varietals including Bourbon, Red Catuai, Caturra and Pacamara. The coffee in this particular lot is Red Catuai, which is a hybrid of the Mundo Novo and Caturra varietals (Mundo Novo being chosen for its resistance to leaf rust, and Caturra for its small size and high productivity).
After harvesting the coffee is transported the short distance to the Benefico Las Segovias processing mill in Ocotal. This particular lot is fully washed: the coffee cherry is fermented in water for 8 to 12 days, depending on the climate. The coffee is washed to remove the mucilage and then dried for 6 to 8 days on raised beds.
There is more information about the processing mill on their Facebook site.
This coffee is UTZ Certified:
UTZ Certified stands for sustainable farming and better opportunities for farmers, their families and our planet. The UTZ program enables farmers to learn better farming methods, improve working conditions and take better care of their children and the environment.
Through the UTZ-program farmers grow better crops, generate more income and create better opportunities while safeguarding the environment and securing the earth’s natural resources.
You can order this coffee through our website www.carvetiicoffee.co.uk
