Preview 2023
From Cafetos de Segovia / Nicaragua
...and again, we would like to give you a preview of the coffee year 2023 from the perspective of our producers. We‘ve asked Martha Buhl, one of the farmers of your favorite coffee in Nicaragua what the situation looks like at her farms/origin. How the harvest turned out or will turn out, what the weather conditions have been or currently are, and what the actual shipping situation looks like. We also wanted to know about new coffees or projects we can look forward to this year...
In the following you can therefore get a brief insight from Nicaragua, and what awaits us in 2023 from Finca Bethania and Finca Hortensia. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We asked Martha Buhl @ Cafetos de Segovia / Nicaragua about the outlook for 2023:
„The harvest in Dipilto and Mozonte started in the last week of December. During the first few weeks the producers clean out the trees - the so-called "el graniteo" - which permits the remaining cherries on the trees to come to a more even final maturation. Yesterday we had the first pick in Bethania of the variety Maracaturra. The cherries looked good and healthy. We will process them in a honey process. They will undergo an 48-hour fermentation. We are curious to cup the beans in about one month time. In between will be the three to four weeks drying process
In the coming weeks we will continue to pick whichever variety is ripe. Our varieties at Finca Bethania mostly include Java, Catuai, Catimor, Maracaturra and Marsellesa. In terms of process natural and anaerobic processes will follow. Las Hortensia's varieties are substantially the same as on Finca Bethania and so are the processes.
Other producers that work with us have also started their pick at about the same time and there are now heavy supplies every day to Cafetos de Segovia. Our patios and raised beds are quickly filling up. Our specialty coffees are drying in raised beds and on patios in the shade to protect them against the sun. For 2023, it is therefore planned to construct a second warehouse at Cafetos de Segovia to increase the number of covered patios and raised beds.
The production cost of this season was unfavorably effected by a number of factors. The climatic conditions over the past several years required a lot of attention in terms of additional watering of the plants and fertilization. The price of the latter has been very high as a result of the war in Ukraine and inflation. A particular important element for producers as well as for the dry mill has been the labor situation. During the past year an important number of Nicaraguan workers have decided to migrate to the United States which has left a shortage of skilled workers in agriculture. It is now difficult to find workers for the harvest and this has led to an increase in the labor cost for those workers who can be found in the region.
Fortunatly the weather has been beneficial this year with normal rain during the maturation season and sun so that a good crop can be expected in terms of volume and quality. We have cupped some early samples and we are really happy with the results. Also the current shipping situation is looking good at the moment, so that that shipments is expected to start in June.
Coffee from the Dipilto/Mozonte region has been awarded the denomination of origin label, which is the first such label in Nicaragua for coffee. Last year the administration and management of the use of the D.O. label has been put in place and we are now exporting coffee regularly under this label which attests to the particular qualities of the coffees from our region. Cafetos de Segovia has been instrumental in achieving the recognition by the Nicaraguan government.“
Thank you so much for answering our questions Martha at Cafetos de Segovia! We are curious to see what further news there will be to report from Nicaragua this year...
