LA VERONA – NICARAGUA

Description

NICARAGUA – LA VERONA

Tasting Notes: Passionfruit, Cocoa Citrus
Roast Degree: Light
Process: Anerobic Natural
Farm: La Verona
Producer: Maria Felicitas Mairena
Varietal: Red Catuai
Elevation: 1,150

Known as the land of lakes and volcanoes within Central America, Nicaragua is a pocket for high quality coffee thanks to its rich soils and various microclimates.

Today, coffee production supports the livelihoods of nearly 45,000 families in Nicaragua, representing 8% of the country’s exports. A significant portion of coffee production, nearly 95%, is grown under a shade of native and exotic tree species. This means that Nicaraguan coffee grows in harmony with the surrounding ecosystems and helps promote biodiversity and soil health.

Maria Felicitas Mairena and her family have been growing coffee on Finca La Verona since the 1920s deep within the El Arenal Natural Reserve situated in Matagalpa. However, in 1983, the farm was expropriated by the Sandinista Regime until President Violeta Chamorro returned the land back to her family in 1996. Nearly 35% of the farm’s lands are protected as natural forests within the Reserve characterized by foggy mountains and water springs providing water to the local community.

The lush forests are also home to a plethora of other fauna including black panthers, jaguars, deer, boars, coatis , guatuzas, and birds such as the three-wattled bellbird and quetzal.

HOW TO BREW

Espresso

Dose: 17.5g
Yield: 50g
Time: 21-24 seconds

Cafetiere

Coffee: 30g
Water: 500g
Time: 8 minutes
Add your coffee to the cafetiere – Pour Over 500g of boiling water – Wait 4 minutes – Stir the crust on top so the grounds sink to the bottom & scrape off the crema (foam) from the top – Wait 4 minutes – Place your plunger so it is level with the water (do not plunge) and pour.

Pour Over 

Coffee: 18g
Water: 340g
Time: 3-4 minutes
Put your coffee in your brewer of choice – Pour over 50g of water for a bloom – Wait 30 seconds – Over 1 minute pour 340g of water – Wait for the water to drip through – Enjoy!