This month’s coffee is produced by a cooperative of 85 small farms in Nicaragua, a country that has been improving its coffee quality and diversity in recent years. Cantagallo is a blend of traditional varieties that showcase the rich and complex terroir of Nicaragua’s northern regions in the most flattering of senses.
Coffee in Nicaragua
Coffee was introduced to the country by Catholic missionaries and colonists in the late 1700s, but it was not until 1850 that it became a major export crop. By 1870, coffee accounted for more than half of Nicaragua’s foreign income. Coffee production thrived in the volcanic soil and the shaded rainforest environment of the northern regions, where farmers cultivated traditional varieties such as Catuai, Caturra, Bourbon, and Typica. Political turmoil, natural disasters, climate change, and market fluctuations have challenged Nicaraguan coffee producers over the years and yet, despite setbacks during the pandemic, the quality of their coffee has been outstanding this year.
The Story Behind Cantagallo
Cantagallo means “rooster’s crow” in Spanish, and it’s a fitting name for this coffee. Roosters are ubiquitous in small coffee growing communities, and they serve as a natural alarm clock for the farmers who wake up early to tend to their crops. The cooperative that produced this coffee, Cooperativa Multifuncional Héroes y Mártires de Cantagallo, is named after the rooster’s crow, as well as the heroes and martyrs of the Nicaraguan revolution.
The cooperative is part of a larger organization called PRODECOOP, which provides support and services to its members, such as dry milling, environmental training, healthcare, life insurance, and education. PRODECOOP also helps its members access international markets and fair trade certification, ensuring that they receive a fair price for their coffee. Cantagallo has members in three of the five main coffee regions of Nicaragua: Esteli, Madriz, and Nueva Segovia. These regions have diverse microclimates, altitudes, and soils, which contribute to the rich and complex flavor profile of this coffee.
The Flavor Profile of Cantagallo
Cantagallo is a coffee that has a nice balance of fruity, floral, and sweet notes. It has a juicy and tangy acidity that reminds us of ripe plums and apricots. It also has a delicate floral aroma that evokes summer blossoms and sweet tea. On the other hand, it has some cozy and comforting flavors that are perfect for the fall season, such as apple cider, chocolate, caramel, and cinnamon. It’s a smooth and sweet coffee that we think you’ll love.
We hope you enjoy Cantagallo as much as we do. It’s a coffee that celebrates the diversity and quality of Nicaraguan coffee, as well as the hard work and dedication of the farmers who produce it.
You can order this incredible coffee through the site while it lasts but if you want to be the first to experience incredible coffees like this from a different place around the world every month, be sure to subscribe to Sphere Coffee Club before the end of the month.
