Nicaragua

I am always heartened and humbled when I visit the farmers of Nicaragua. In a country so recently torn by war, the people are amazingly upbeat, compassionate and forgiving- a lesson for us all. Our coffee comes from mountainous Esteli, which continues to be a stronghold of support for people-centered social change. The growers' managing cooperative, Prodecoop, is made up of forty-four producer coops, many of whom are farmers displaced by the war and now resettled on the large landholdings of former Somoza henchmen.

We created a groundbreaking project in Leon-a café/roasterie owned and operated by a prosthetics clinic that gives free limbs and therapy to landmine victims and the poor. All profits from the Café Ben Linder go to the clinic, and post-therapy patients can work in the café to normalize their disability in a good paying job with dignity. We also support the Leon baseball team (anyone who hits our outfield sign with a homer gets $100!).

When Hurricane Mitch hit Nicaragua, we put together the HurricAid concert and sent $9,000 directly to the farmers for food and rebuilding.

The coffee is strictly high grown above 1100 meters on small plots that are often communally owned. The large bean delivers a smooth, full taste with complex aroma. There is a slightly dry cocoa taste that comes out in the dark roast. We use this great coffee straight up as Nicaraguan French Roast, in Uprising! Breakfast Blend (medium), Roadhouse (dark), La Paz! (med/dark) and Moka Sumatra (med/dark).

Products from Nicaragua

Read today's news from Nicaragua!