The 7 Best Nicaraguan Coffee Brands
The Reputation of Nicaraguan Coffee Beans
Nicaragua is the third largest producer of coffee in Central America, (with Honduras and Guatemala being the first and second, according to the ICO). Coffee has long been a cornerstone to the Nicaraguan economy since the 1800s! Nicaraguan coffee has since been through some difficult times. Wars, hurricanes and import bans all contributed to a significant decrease in demand for Nicaraguan beans. Luckily, those times appear to be in the past, and the reputation of Nicaraguan coffee is constantly on the rise now!
Nicaragua really has a lot to offer, and so we’ve put together a list of what we feel to be the 7 best Nicaraguan coffees out there!
Here's a quick summary of our best Nicaraguan coffee picks!
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Can’t pick just one? If we had to pick one, it would be the LifeBoost's Mycotoxin Free Coffee!
Nicaraguan Coffee Growing Regions
Nicaraguan coffee farms are typically located at high altitudes. The vast array of mountainous regions provide high elevations, as well as rich, nutrient packed volcanic soils. Nicaraguan coffee farms are often family owned. Coffee roasters partner with these farms through a number of cooperative initiatives that ensure proper compensation to farmers and encourage a high quality output. Meticulous care and organic practices also play a major factor in the high quality of Nicaraguan coffee.
Let's chat briefly about a couple of the more well known coffee growing regions.
Jinotega Coffee
Jinotega is located in the North Central region of Nicaragua. The vast majority of Nicaraguan coffee is produced in this region. If you’ve had a Nicaraguan coffee before, chances are that it came from Jinotega! Rich volcanic soils, high elevations, and the shade provided by trees all contribute the the production of high quality Jinotega coffee beans.
Matagalpa Coffee
Matagalpa is known both as the “Pearl of the North” and “Land of Eternal Spring”. As the title of eternal Spring would imply, warm, Spring-like weather exists year round. Matagalpa is a large city, and exports a number of different goods. Among these exports, of course, is coffee! Matagalpa coffee is known to be of a very high quality, and for a good reason!
Other Regions
Jinotega and Matagalpa are the most commercially available Nicaraguan coffee brands, but there are plenty more to discover too! Segovia produces some great coffee too, but it is unfortunately a little more difficult to get your hands on.
Vast Nicaraguan coffee farms can be seen from afar.
Coffee Brewing - Quick Reference Guide [Print-Friendly PDF]
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Nicaraguan Coffee Taste Profile
Nicaraguan coffee taste profiles can be quite variable, but you can expect to find at least a few of these signature aspects;
The Best Nicaraguan Coffee Brands
As we mentioned earlier, Nicaraguan coffee is constantly increasing in popularity. Because of this, there has been an influx of new Nicaraguan coffee brands in recent years. It is for this reason that we’ve compiled a list of what we feel to be the 7 best Nicaraguan coffee brands that are currently available. Have a look!
1. Mycotoxin Free Coffee
Roasted By: LifeBoost Coffee
Roast: Medium
Taste: Rich, notes of chocolate & caramel
This one is for the health conscious, low acid coffee enthusiasts out there! Delicious notes of chocolate & caramel and are evident in this smooth, low acid cup.
LifeBoost coffee is well known for their focus on health conscious coffee, and are one of very few roasters to test for mycotoxins. What are mycotoxins? Mycotoxins are toxic, potentially disease causing metabolites produced by a variety mold species. Needless to say, you don't want them in your coffee! LifeBoost coffee is also pesticide free, organic, shade grown and fair trade!
These beans are a little more expensive than some other options, but you truly get what you pay for here - LifeBoost even offers a money back guarantee if you're not satisfied! You can usually find discounts here!
Not available as single serve
2. Jinotega Coffee
Roasted By: Don Tomas Coffee
Roast: Medium
Taste: Sweet, notes of butterscotch & chocolate
Next up we have some beans from Jinetoga! The majority of coffee from Nicaragua comes from Jinetoga, but don't worry, quality is not sacrificed for quantity. Don Tomas Coffee is a highly respectable roaster that runs their own school in Nicaragua. On top of that, they assist in housing efforts and medical programs. This coffee has a sweet, room-filling aroma & delicious notes of butterscotch & chocolate. A bright, citric acidity provides a fresh bite before fading away into a smooth & light finish. These beans also make a great espresso shot!
Not available as ground coffee
Not available as single serve
3. Matagalpa Coffee
Roasted By: Three Avocados
Roast: Medium
Taste: Sweet, notes of citrus fruits and honey
Next up we have this fine coffee from Matagalpa. These beans are roasted by Three Avocados, another very respectable roaster. All of the profits, (that's right 100%) go to a clean water initiative in Uganda. This coffee is naturally sweet and contains notes of honey & citrus fruits. This one is very low in acidity and can be enjoyed by those with who may have sensitive stomachs! This is a truly stand out coffee that any coffee lover is sure to enjoy.
Not available as ground coffee
Not available as single serve
4. Pacamara Coffee
Roasted By: Boca Java
Roast: Light
Taste: Mellow, notes of berries & vanilla
This coffee also comes from Jinotega, but it is a lot different than #1 in our list. These beans are of the Pacamara variety. This is the result of crossing the Pacas and Maragogype varietals. Can you guess where the name Paca-Mara comes from? This coffee is delicate & mellow, with prominent notes of vanilla & berries as well as a honey-toned sweetness. A bright, fruity bite is present but not overwhelming. When all is said and done, a sweet, lingering aftertaste remains!
Not available as ground coffee
Not available as single serve
If you're interested, you can read more about Pacamara Coffee!
5. Río Coco Coffee
Roasted By: Mayorga Organics
Roast: Medium
Taste: Balanced, notes of earth, nuts and chocolate
These beans come from a lesser known region called San Juan del Río Coco. This coffee is a testament to the idea that less popular Nicaraguan regions can produce some top quality stuff! Mayorga Organics, as the name would imply, is all about environmentally friendly and sustainable practices. These beans make a cup that balances many notable aspects. Notes of nuts & chocolate combine with some earthy character, a honey-like sweetness and a moderate level of acidity to make a truly interesting coffee. You'll definitely want more than one cup of this to take in all that it has to offer.
Not available as ground coffee
Not available as single serve
6. Segovia Coffee
Roasted By: Tiny Footprint Coffee
Roast: Dark
Taste: Rich, notes of apricot, spice & nut
Another organic coffee from another roaster that puts sustainability at the forefront of their operation. Tiny Footprint coffee constantly plants trees in an effort to reforest the planet! Nicaraguan coffee farms and roasters would appear to take a lot of pride in their work, which is great for us! This coffee is rich, with notes of nut, spice & apricot. A pleasant sweetness that is reminiscent of nougat is also evident. Anyone who tends to prefer a darker roast should do themselves a favor and check out this coffee!
Not available as single serve
7. Organic Nicaraguan Coffee
Roasted By: Coffee Bean Direct
Roast: Light
Taste: Balanced, notes of fruit & earth
Our final Nicaraguan coffee is a wonderful light roast from Coffee Bean Direct. This one is organic and fair trade which is commonplace for Nicaraguan coffee. These beans are lightly roasted, yet maintain a low acidity! An intense aroma of earth & chocolate will catch your attention right off the bat. This coffee is sweet and has notes of fruit and earth. If you tend to prefer a lighter roast, check out this coffee!
Not available as ground coffee
Not available as single serve
And that concludes our look at the best Nicaraguan beans! Hopefully you’ve found a new coffee to try out!
What is your favorite Nicaraguan coffee? Did we miss something that deserves to be in our list? Let us know!
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