Cup of Excellence: Nicaragua Santa Cruz Voyager Series #9

Voyager Series #9

2024 Cup of Excellence Winner

Cup of Excellence is the most prestigious competition and auction for high quality coffees. The level of scrutiny that Cup of Excellence coffees undergo is unmatched anywhere in the specialty coffee industry. Each year, thousands of coffees are submitted for consideration, with winning coffees sold in global online auctions at premium prices, with the vast majority of auction proceeds going to the farmers.

Flavor Profile: Mango, Lemongrass, Cedar, Honey

Roast Level: Light

Processing Method: Honey

Region: Aranjuez Matagalpa

Producer: Sara Isabel Corrales Rivas

Elevation: 1450 MASL

Variety: Maracaturra

Notes: Farm Santa Cruz, owned by fourth generation producer Sara Isabel Corrales Rivas, is located at 1450 meters above sea level in the area of Aranjuez Matagalpa, Nicaragua. The farm has been a part of Sara’s family for over three decades, growing some of the finest coffees in the country. Sara attributes their coffee growing success to a well-balanced farm management strategy comprised of everything from people to biological controls. In particular, Farm Santa Cruz leverages soil biomineralization created through the organic matter fertilizer sourced directly from the farm. Sara also works with a variety of other biological controls like pruning, shade growing, and disease management. These meticulous efforts have led to multiple Cup of Excellence selections. 

This particular coffee is of the Maracaturra variety, which holds special significance for Sara Isabel Corrales Rivas’s family  as it was the first coffee planted on the farm. After being picked from the coffee trees, the beans are then honey processed, dried, milled, and prepared for shipment. All of these factors contribute to a full-bodied coffee with bright, apple acidity and notes of cedar, honey, lemongrass, and mango.