Nicaraguan Finca Santa Maria

Notes - Raspberry, Elderflower And Honey

A well rounded, smooth coffee. Perfect for everyday. A truly great tasting washed coffee with subtle but distinctive notes of raspberry, elderflower and honey. A crisp and clean taste from this washed process Nicaraguan coffee bean.

Roast - Medium

Process - Fully Washed

Plant Species - Arabica

Variety - Yellow Catuai

Altitude - 1,550m

The 40 hectares of natural mountain forest that make up Finca Santa Maria de Lourdes have been under the ownership of Octavio Peralta since 1970 although for many years the area was used as a war zone during the Sandinista uprising and was heavily mined. The UN cleared the area of ​​mines in the late 1980s and Octavio began restoring the exceptional coffee production in this relatively wild region since 1994. Octavio has dedicated himself to this cause as well as preserving nature, a habitat that is recognized as a major factor in the production of its fantastic coffee. Of the 80 hectares of arable land available, 40 have been reserved for the sole purpose of maintaining and improving the natural habitat. The farm has obtained rainforest alliance certification in recognition of this decision and contributes to the continued conservation of its surroundings. Process - Fully Washed The Peralta ‘Laurel’ process is a washed process with some variations to the traditional fermentation. Ripe cherries are carefully selected with a minimum Brix value of 19.50o. They are then washed, siphoned and pulped. After pulping, the coffee is left for around 48 hours, with precise timing dictated by ambient temperature inside the dry running channel. Every 6 hours the coffee is rinsed with clean water to prevent the pH from dropping below 5. Water is also sprayed during this period to lower the temperature and avoid over-fermentation. The coffee is then thoroughly washed at the end of the fermentation stage and left to rest for 24 hours. Measurements are taken throughout to maintain an ambient temperature of 17oC, a coffee pH of 5 and a water pH of 7. After rest, the wet parchment is dried on covered, African- style raised beds for an average of 13 days, before being rested as dried parchment and then milled for export.