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The exclusive coffee for

February

Santa Maria

Nicaragua

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Coffee Profile

Varietals
Pink Bourbon

Process
Natural

Producer
Finca Santa Maria

Notes
Orange, Peach & Lychee

More about the coffee, producer & region.

he 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.

About the Region

The municipality of San Fernando is located about 24 kilometers from the Ocotal region and of the 10,000 inhabitants, the vast majority are coffee growers. This beautiful area is located in the Nueva Segovia region where altitudes range between 1,350 and 1,550 meters above sea level. Santa Maria de Lourdes embodies a diverse range of lush vegetation and wildlife brought about by high levels of rain.

About the Process

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.