9 Best Nicaraguan Coffees

Nicaraguan coffee is inarguably among the world’s finest varieties. Flavors like chocolate, toasted almonds, orange, and honey spring up in each sip. Grown at high altitudes on shady mountain peaks, the rich soil and warm air nourishes the coffee beans before each one is hand-picked for distribution. (Learn more about this labor of love in our Nicaraguan coffee guide.) But you don’t need to travel all the way there to experience some of the best Nicaraguan coffees.

Not every coffee blend is quite the same, and Nicaragua’s supreme selection is no exception. There are certain factors to consider when choosing a good coffee: sustainability certifications, international ethical standards, and the quality of the coffee beans all affect the final product–and the communities that produce it.

We’ve vetted these 9 Nicaraguan coffees for all the characteristics that distinguish the best of the best. Here are our top recommendations to wake up to a taste of Nicaragua right at home:

Café Las Flores

Café Las Flores holds a special place on this list because it is here where Luis learned all about coffee! 

Grown at Hacienda El Progreso on the slopes of Mombacho Volcano, this is a popular brand in Nicaragua. Café Las Flores is something of a Starbucks here: there are now nine store branches located across Managua and Granada. If you’re in Nicaragua, be sure to visit–you might catch sight of a sloth while you’re at it.

The green label single-origin coffee is definitely superior in flavor and quality, but the cheaper red label is also commonly enjoyed.

Mayorga Coffee

Mayorga Coffee is a Latino brand with a purpose. Founded on a mission to level the playing field for hardworking families, the company partners directly with farmers to responsibly and respectfully source each of their specialty coffees.

Mayorga’s commitment to sustainability at every level shows in each sip. It translates into artisanal quality coffee that supports the planet, people, and Latin American pride.

We can confidently recommend any of Mayorga’s coffees, but the Nicaragua La Carola has to be our top choice. Directly from the woman-owned and -operated farm Finca La Carola in Jinotega, this single-origin, organic Nicaraguan coffee is proudly produced by a mother of two. You can taste the love–Mayorga’s La Carola is a richly flavorful medium roast that’s both bold and sweet.

Twin Engine Coffee

Headquartered in León, Twin Engine crafts some of the best coffees that Nicaragua has to offer. 

They hold themselves to an even higher standard than Fair Trade. The brand prides itself on being “Made at Origin”: from bean to bag, the entire process takes place on-site in Nicaragua. Twin Engine’s freshly roasted coffee is grown in micro-climates up in the summits of Nueva Segovia and four other northern regions.

HN Hint: This is a great gift to bring back from León. My coffee-drinking friends loved the Cigar blend!

We recommend their Cigar No. 1 dark roast coffee. Twin Engine consciously designed the blend to pair with premium hand-rolled Nicaraguan cigars. It’s a bold flavor for coffee drinkers who love a strong cup.

They even offer a specialty blend for coffee aficionados: the ultra-rare Maragogype bean. Commonly known as the “Elephant Bean,” this gargantuan coffee variety isn’t easy to get your hands on. Twin Engine’s award-winning Nicaraguan Elefante Reserve is a limited release of the naturally creamy and cocoa-y coffee blend. 

Fara Coffee

Fara Coffee is a creamy, nutty blend from the mountains of Matagalpa with a philanthropic arm. Each bag sold supports the Fara Foundation, the brand’s non-profit that provides aid to Nicaraguan families through healthcare, food assistance, educational opportunities, and elder care.

Fara Coffee likens its medium-roast special blend to milk chocolate in flavor. This one is easy to put on regular rotation as a morning coffee.

LIMITED EDITION: Emense Coffee

Emense Coffee comes from a tiny farm with a big dream. Producer Elton Guillen left behind a corporate life in California and returned to his Nicaraguan roots. He moved to Nueva Segovia to rebuild his family’s legacy coffee farm, a mammoth undertaking that he documents on social media. Using his platform to spread positivity and shed light on the beauty of Nicaragua, the fledgling producer uses coffee to connect communities all over the world.

You can find Emense’s limited edition Finca Yasinbay, a single-origin specialty coffee with tasting notes of cola and pomegranate, here.

Gobena Coffee

Gobena Coffee is an ethically-sourced brand with a focus on freshness. They roast their imported green coffee in small batches and package it the same day, ensuring flavorful beans of the highest quality. 

Their rich Nicaraguan dark roast is harvested from Jinotega, and contains notes of brown sugar and plum. 100% of Gobena’s net profits go toward orphans and vulnerable children

Tiny Footprint Coffee

Tiny Footprint considers itself the world’s first “carbon negative” coffee. Their organic dark roast Nicaraguan coffee is harvested from the northern Nueva Segovia region. It’s a smooth blend with notes of apricot, fig, and spice. 

Tiny Footprint has a particular focus on supporting female farmers, and it gives back to forest restoration efforts through its Ecuadoran nonprofit, the Mindo Cloudforest Foundation.

Lifeboost Coffee

Shade-grown at a high altitude, Lifeboost single-origin Nicaraguan coffee is gourmet. The niche brand focuses on producing naturally low acid beans using eco-friendly, non-toxic methods. The result is a mellow brew which is perhaps not as robust in flavor, but far easier on the stomach

But be aware that you get what you pay for: Lifeboost puts a high price tag on its organic Nicaraguan coffee.

Thanksgiving Coffee

Thanksgiving Coffee sources its signature light roast from Jinotega, Nicaragua. Grown beneath the shade of bananas, mangos, and mahogany, this organic coffee is tended by a local Nicaraguan farmers’ cooperative of more than 650 families. 

Thanksgiving Coffee was awarded Roaster of the Year in 2017 by Roast Magazine. Their Nicaraguan “Flor de Jinotega” blend is a light and sweet cup of coffee.

Need A Coffee Grinder?

Some of these varieties are only available in whole bean form, but you can easily convert them to ultra-fresh grounds at home with a basic coffee grinder like this one:

Conclusion

When you’re wishing you were waking up in Nicaragua, reach for a bag of their organic coffee beans to tide you over until the next trip. In this range of the top light to dark roasts, you’re sure to find your new favorite variety.

Did you try any of these 9 best Nicaraguan coffees? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!

Meet your Tour Guides

Hola! We’re Gail & Luis, a team of two with a deep love for Nicaragua. Luis, a professional tour guide, is the knowledgeable source behind the blog. Gail, an American writer, is the voice. 

We started this blog as a way to stay connected from afar and support Nicaragua in our own small way.

Today, our mission is to open hearts and minds to the wonders of Nicaragua and make it easier than ever to start planning your trip.

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