Nicaragua: Limoncillo, Ethiosar, Washed

Nicaragua: Finca Limoncillo, Ethiosar, Washed

A delicate yellow plum acidity keeps this super fudgy coffee lively and unctuous with a handful of creamy pecans on the finish.

The coffee we have here hails from the Matagalpa region of Nicaragua, grown and processed for us by our good friends the Mierisch family. This is one of our longest continuing producer relationships as we’ve been buying coffee from their farm Finca Limoncillo since 2007, and we foresee that continuing for many years yet. The first single origin coffee we’re releasing from this year’s harvest is a Washed Ethiosar.

On The Farm

All of the Mierisch Nicaraguan coffee farms are sprinkled across the Jinotega and Matagalpa regions in the north west of the country. They’re dotted up either side of the mountain range on the border of the 2 departments. When Roland travels to visit the farms, generally he’ll see Limoncillo on the same day as La Huella and Mama Mina as they’re close to each other. You start at Mama Mina first, then through La Huella, before heading on to Limoncillo, the biggest, to finish.

Finca Limoncillo is a premium coffee farm and jewel of the Mierisch family nestled at 1,200 metres above sea level in the lush mountains of Matagalpa, Nicaragua. Spanning 171 hectares (109 of which are dedicated to coffee cultivation) the farm is known not only for its breathtaking landscape, with nine waterfalls crossing its terrain, but also for its role as a benchmark in Nicaraguan specialty coffee. Owned by the Mierisch family, highly respected producers known for their experimental processing, varietal work, and exceptional coffee. Limoncillo is home to a wide range of varietals, including Caturra, Red Bourbon, Pacamara, and Java.

The Mierisch Family

The very first of the Mierisch farms was founded in 1895 by German émigré Ernst Bruno Mierisch Boettiger. He was compensated by the Nicaraguan government for his engineering work on the construction of the pacific railroad between Masaya and Diriamba with a parcel of land - a goldmine and a farm he named “Sajonia” (the Spanish spelling of his home region back in Germany, Saxony). In 1908 he planted his first coffee tree, today Fincas Mierisch have 9 coffee farms in Nicaragua and 3 in Honduras. Over 100 years later the family business is now run by his grandson, Dr. Erwin Mierisch Buitrago (3rd generation), and great-great-grandson, Erwin “Wingo” Mierisch Jackman (5th generation).

Wingo has been involved with the farms since 2017, contributing to everything from post-harvest processing, to roasting, cupping, and green coffee sales. His passion for innovation and research has led him to head development of new post-harvesting processing methods at the mill, and fine-tuning QC lab protocols to increase quality and consistency. With Wingo’s input, the team at the Don Esteban mill have heavily invested in experimentation with processing coffee.

Erick Lopez is the Head Agronomist of the Mierisch farms, he started his career at entry level 22 years ago with their team working in the fields. He showed talent and commitment, so they promoted him and financed his further education to enable him to move up to his current position. He now oversees most of the practical day-to-day operation of the farms. The Fincas Mierisch team has an abundance of employees who have been with them for many years, their expertise and skill are what make the great quality of product and service they provide possible.

The family employ over 3,000 staff during the harvest, and at Limoncillo over 60 families live on the farm full-time. They are seriously loved by the folks who work for them, more than any other producer we buy from, there is genuine love and respect between the family and their workers. The fact that the Mierisches are our friends helps us drill down into the details of what they do for the people who work for them. This information continues to prove to us that good people grow good coffee.

Sustainable Coffee Beans

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Produced by the Mierisch family in the Matagalpa region of Nicaragua, this lot from Ozone Coffee showcases the unique characteristics of the Ethiosar varietal. As a hybrid cross between Sarchimor and Ethiopian landraces, this plant is often cultivated for its resilience and distinct profile. By utilizing a washed process, the producers emphasize a clean cup structure, allowing the specific nuances of the bean to shine through without the influence of fruit fermentation typically found in natural-processed coffees.

In the cup, this selection presents a balanced interplay of bright yellow plum acidity paired with the deeper, comforting notes of fudgy sweetness and creamy pecans. When evaluating these specific descriptors, it can be helpful to reference a flavor wheel to better identify how these nutty and stone-fruit qualities interact. This coffee serves as a refined example of how careful cultivation and precise processing methods can highlight the inherent potential of a single varietal grown at 1200 masl.