central american coffees
Mexico
Mexico is the worlds’ 7th largest coffee producer and most of
the coffee cultivated is Arabica from the southern part of the
country, where it is grown by poor smallholders and sold on to the
National Co-operative. Vera Cruz State, on the gulf side of the
central mountain range, produces mostly lowland coffees, but
coffees called Altura (High) Coatepec, from a mountainous region
near the city of that name, have an excellent reputation. Chiapas
and Tapachula coffee is grown in the mountains of the southeastern
most corner of Mexico near the border with Guatemala and has a
delicate light flavour similar to the well-known Oaxaca. Lavado
(prime washed) is a grade of Mexico coffee that includes most of
its’ finest. Mexico is also the worlds’ main source of maragogype
beans, which are extra large and some experts consider that they
produce the very best coffee. It is also the largest producer of
certified organic beans.
guatemala
As the second largest producer in Central America (and 8th in
the world) Guatemala is another main source of the maragogype
bean.
The best Guatemalan coffees have a very distinct, spicy, and (when
dark roasted) display a unique smoky flavour that sets them apart
from all other coffees. They are very acidy, with the spiciness or
smokiness coming across as within the acidy tones, and are medium
to full in body and rich in flavour. High Grown beans (Strictly
Hard Bean) grade coffees (such as Antigua) from the central
highlands tend to have a rich, spicy or floral acidity with
excellent body characteristic.
Coffees from mountainous areas exposed to either Pacific or
Caribbean weather, display a bit less acidity and more fruit.
Well-known Guatemalan coffee names are Antigua, Coban and
Huehuetenango.
honduras
Honduran Arabica coffee is number nine in our ‘league’
table of world coffee producers, yet most of it is fairly
undistinguished and is mainly used as a blending coffee.
There are some excellent varieties grown, but they are often
blended before they are exported. Beans are named after the growing
regions, including Santa Barbara, as well as Copan, Ocotepeque,
Lempira, La Paz and El Paraiso.
costa rica
Costa Rican (Arabica only) coffee displays a full body and
clean, robust acidity that makes it among the most revered of all
Central American coffee.
It is grown primarily in the countryside surrounding the capital,
San Jose, on rich, well-drained volcanic soil above 3000
feet.
Four of the most famous coffees are San Marcos de Tarrazu, Tres
Rios, Heredia, and Alajuela. La Minita is a well-publicised estate
in the Tarrazu district of Costa Rica that produces an excellent
coffee - reputed to be the most meticulously prepared in the
world.
nicaragua
Situated between Honduras and Costa Rica, the coffees of
Nicaragua display a characteristic more of the former than of the
latter.
They are coffees in the classic Central-American style but
generally undistinguished - being medium-bodied, straightforwardly
acidy, with a reasonable flavour.
Local bean names include Matagalpa, Jinotega and Segovia.
el salvador
Despite being the smallest country on the American continent, El
Salvador ranks 15th in world coffee production.
This has not always been the case, as political problems have
regularly beset this densely populated country. El Salvador’s
Arabica coffees tend toward softer, less acidy versions of the
classic Central America flavour, and are often used in
blending.
The best High-Grown coffees are from trees of the Bourbon and
Pacamara varieties and the taste can be fragrant and complex.
Strictly High-Grown is the highest grade of El Salvador coffee and
Matalapa is probably the best known estate.
panama
With only some 120,000 bags of coffee produced annually, Panama
is not in our list of major coffee producers, yet it must get a
mention for producing Panama Gesha, which is considered by many to
be by far the best coffee ever produced and has recorded the
highest prices in coffee auction history.
This coffee has an extraordinary character, with jasmine-like
aroma, unbelievable acidity, with a citrus and honey flavour.
This coffee is unlike any other.