NICARAGUA - BETHANIA HORTENSIA - WASHED

This washed process coffee comes from the Bethania and Hortensia farms, two neighbouring family-run farms in the mountains of Nueva Segovia, northern Nicaragua.

It's a delightful cup that showcases the classic flavours expected from a Central American coffee; balanced and well-rounded, a smooth easy drinker!

Expect a praline nutty caramel base that moves through into a gentle redcurrant acidity as it cools. A velvety mouthfeel that'll leave you wanting another cup!

The story behind the coffee:

The farms are owned and run by third-generation producers, sisters Martha and Ana Alvir, who returned to Nicaragua after time abroad, to take on their father’s land and rebuild it around quality coffee.

Nestled in the highlands of Nueva Segovia, Bethania and Hontensia 'Fincas' (farms) benefit from a unique microclimate that enhances the expression of its diverse coffee varieties. 

Over the past decade, they’ve steadily replanted the farms with varieties like Catuai, Maracaturra, Gesha and Java, moving away from a yield-first approach and towards careful cultivation at altitude.

This particular variety is the Catuai variety, most popularly grown in Brazil, but extending across Central and South America, as a solid, reliable crop across many smallholder farms. From this variety you can expect a mild to medium body, with moderate acidity, allowing for a trustworthy cup every time!

After harvesting the coffee, it is taken to Cafetos De Segovia, a local dry mill close by in Ocotal, also run by the sisters, along with their team. In 2015, they realised that the prices paid for coffee cherries in the region were too low and that they could produce high-quality coffee on their own farm. They decided to create a dry mill to add value to their product.

Nueva Segovia sits close to the Honduran border, with steep terrain, cool nights, and volcanic soils. Coffee here tends to be grown on smaller farms, under shade, and with close attention to detail – and the region consistently performs well at Cup of Excellence. Bethania and Hortensia are part of this landscape: small-scale, hands-on, and focused on quality that reflects place.