448 Nicaragua El Avion Red Catuai Washed

Description

Flavor Notes Green apple, Roasted hazelnuts, Sugar cane, Citrus, Round Beans Farm & Producer: El Avions, Mario GonzalezDipilto Area: Dipilto, Nueva Segovia Altitude: 1500-1750m Varietal: Red Catuai Processing: Washed Roast Level Light roast ------------------------------   ＜El Avion Farm＞ The producer, Mario Gonzalez, manages three farms in Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua: El Amparo, El Avion, and Los Suyates. The name El Avion means “the airplane.” Before 2006, the land was mainly used for forestry, with pine trees covering the area. However, when new regulations significantly restricted timber production in the region, the Gonzalez family made an important decision to shift their business toward coffee production. The land had never been planted with coffee before. Starting from scratch, the Gonzalez family transformed what had once been a pine forest into a beautiful coffee farm. Mario’s son-in-law, Jairo, who is an agronomist, has played an important role in the farm’s development. Together, they planted different varieties of coffee beneath the large conifer trees. The shade created by these trees provides a suitable environment for the coffee plants to grow. The fallen pine needles also create a natural ground cover, helping protect the soil without preventing rainwater from reaching the coffee plants. Mario and his family carefully manage the soil using natural materials, and the rich soil contributes to the production of high-quality coffee. Today, the next generation of the family has also started learning how to manage the farms, helping carry their family’s coffee tradition into the future. Another special aspect of Mario’s farms is that the same pickers return every harvest season. This is quite unusual. By paying the pickers fair wages, the farm has built a strong relationship of mutual support with them. As a result, the pickers are able to carefully select and harvest only fully ripe cherries, helping the farm produce consistently high-quality coffee year after year. The Gonzalez family also works closely with their local partner in Nicaragua, Bridazul. Their coffee is processed through Bridazul and exported to different countries around the world. The name “Bridazul” combines the ideas of connection and Nicaragua. “Brid” refers to a cable tie or clamp, and more broadly represents the idea of “connecting” or “bringing things together.” “Azul” means “blue,” one of the main colors of the Nicaraguan flag. Together, the name Bridazul represents their goal of connecting coffee farms with customers around the world. Bridazul’s processing facility includes fermentation tanks, a wet mill, several types of drying beds, a cupping room, and a recently introduced dry mill. Processing equipment can be very expensive, and proper drying can be difficult depending on the altitude of the farm. By taking care of processing and export operations, Bridazul supports producers so they can focus on producing high-quality coffee. Bridazul also provides producers with education and knowledge about farming and quality control. The Bridazul team is led and managed by Claudia Lobo. As a woman working in the coffee industry, Claudia takes great pride in leading her team. Approximately 80% of the full-time staff working at the mill are local women. When we first discovered this coffee at a cupping session, we were captivated by its gentle and comforting sweetness. We chose a light roast to bring out and fully enjoy this coffee’s soft sweetness. The beans are relatively large and have a slightly high moisture content. We gradually increased the heat during the first half of the roast and allowed the coffee to roast slowly, helping the heat reach the inside of the beans and bringing out a pleasant sweetness. We kept the roasting time relatively short, in the nine-minute range, to preserve the fruity character of the coffee. You may notice a gentle acidity reminiscent of green apple, followed by sweetness similar to hazelnut and sugarcane. As the coffee cools, the sweetness gradually becomes more pronounced, with a subtle citrus character adding a light and refreshing quality to the cup. As the weather gradually becomes cooler, we recommend enjoying this gentle and easy-drinking coffee as a morning cup of hot coffee.