Last month Scott and I were able to take a trip to Nicaragua to meet with some coffee farmers up in the mountains of San Rafael. The scenery was breathtaking and everyone we met was so kind. Here are just a few pictures of our time in Nicaragua.
It all starts with these guys...
Farmer Javier
He is a leader in his community and actually some of his coffee is sold to Starbucks.
He was great to talk to and was very open about his experience growing and selling coffee and the practices he'd like to see change.
Of course my favorite thing about Farmer Javier is the way he tied his shirt into a knot!
Farmer Cruz
Cruz was able to build a coffee mill in his house where he is able to process his coffee beans.
Not all farmers have their own mill. The community usually works together to help each other pulp, wash, and dry the coffee beans so they will be ready to sell.
Planting Coffee
Young Coffee Trees
Older Coffee Trees
These coffee trees produce coffee cherries.
Inside these cherries there are two coffee beans or seeds.
After the cherries are picked they are either run through a pulper where the outer layer of the cherry is removed, submerged in water where the muscilage is "washed" away, or the entire cherry is left out to dry. These are just different methods of processing coffee. This process is very specific and important when it comes to quality of the coffee.
(this machine is taking off the outer layer of the cherry and leaving those green colored coffee beans)
From there the coffee is dried and sorted.
Hopefully broken or bad beans are removed and the beans are sorted according to size so they can roast evenly.
After the beans have been dried and the outer layer of dried parchment is removed, you end up with GREEN BEANS!
The next steps are roasting, grinding, brewing, and enjoying!
Scott and I spent a few days with the farmers discussing their farms and what they would like to change. Scott used his knowledge of organic farming, coffee, and the specialty coffee industry to make suggestions to the farmers.
We hope to continue to have a relationship with these farmers and to lend them knowledge, information, access to the coffee market, and support where ever and whenever needed.
We do know that there is a huge need for a clinic in the mountains of San Rafael where these farmers live. There is a need for clothing for the children and the farmers are wanting to change over to organic growing practices as well.
Thank you to all who supported Scott and myself on this trip! We had an amazing time and made some good friends. We ask that you remember these farmers and their families in your prayers and hopefully there will be many more trips to Nicaragua and you all will get to meet these people for yourselves! Or even help build them a clinic!!!
I'll leave you with a few more pictures of Nicaragua.
