Flavors of light brown sugar and caramel are offset by bittersweet roasted cacao nib and powdered chocolate, a subtle glimpse of dried apple helps define acidity.
Los Papales is a 200 hectare coffee estate located about 15 minutes outside the main town of Jinotega. The coffee farm has been in the Lopez family for more than 100 years, and is multi-generational to this day.
Most of the coffee is grown in more than ample shade, that along with a commitment to water conservation and wastewater management, has earned them certification by the Rain Forest Alliance. The altitude at the farm ranges from 1300 to 1700 meters above sea level. Los Papales produce several different process types, but we found the clean cups and balanced flavor profile of this wet processed lot to be compelling.
Finca Los Papales is a very appealing bittersweet cup, appealing in an “everyday drinking coffee” kinda way. The fragrance of the dry grounds has a sweet-to-savory note that’s like chocolate-covered pretzel, or a wafer cookie (reminds me of a “Twix” candy bar). The aroma has a very slight fruit hint, but hardly worth our attention amidst an enticing smell of fine drinking chocolate.
- Origin: Nicaragua
- Region: Jinotega
- Farm: Finca Los Papales
- Producer: Lopez family
- Altitude: 1300-1700m
- Cultivar: Caturra, Catuai
- Processing: Wet Process (Washed)
- Drying: Patio and Sun-Dried
- Certificate: Rain Forest Alliance
- Sourcing: Sweet Maria’s