{"product_id":"nicaragua-la-huella-striped-orange-bourbon","title":"Nicaragua: La Huella, Striped Orange Bourbon","description":"\u003ch1\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNicaragua: La Huella, Striped Orange Bourbon\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fresh and vibrant medley of \u003cstrong\u003estrawberries\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003epassion fruit\u003c\/strong\u003e opens this elegant and complex cup, shifting into\u003cstrong\u003e black grapes \u003c\/strong\u003eon the aftertaste. As it cools, the fruit sweetness comes to the fore, with delicate hints of \u003cstrong\u003eorange\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003enectarine\u003c\/strong\u003e sitting behind those sweet strawberry notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is our second year buying this Nicaraguan coffee, first tasted by chance on a visit to La Huella in 2024. It was love at first sip when Wingo mentioned they had experimentally separated some noticeably striped cherries from the main Orange Bourbon harvest. There wasn't enough for us to buy from that very first tiny picking, but Roland kept chasing to make sure we got some the following year, and we've now been able to buy this unique Washed Striped Orange Bourbon coffee again for 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eA Farm In The Clouds\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll of the Mierisch family's Nicaraguan coffee farms are spread across the Jinotega and Matagalpa regions in the northwest of the country. They’re dotted on either side of the mountain range that forms the border between the two departments. La Huella sits on the Matagalpa side, to the south.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Roland travels to visit the farms, he’ll generally see La Huella on the same day as Limoncillo and Mama Mina, as they are close to one another. The journey typically starts at Mama Mina, continues through La Huella (with a stop for fresh tortillas at the wet mill along the way), before heading on to Limoncillo, the largest of the three farms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLa Huella is one of the newest additions to our long relationship with the Mierisch family, having been planted in 2014 in the misty hills of El Arenal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLa Huella mostly grows Java and Red Catuai, with fewer shade trees than many other Mierisch farms. This is due to the overcast microclimate created by the local geography. Foggy clouds linger over the farm for much of the day, effectively doing the same job that shade trees would elsewhere. While most coffee farms need to add canopy cover, La Huella must deliberately keep it sparse or the coffee plants simply don't receive enough light to thrive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe farm also grows a small collection of exotic coffee varietals, including this Striped Orange Bourbon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003ePeople\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe very first Mierisch farm was founded in 1895 by German émigré Ernst Bruno Mierisch Boettiger. He was compensated by the Nicaraguan government for his engineering work on the construction of the Pacific railroad between Masaya and Diriamba with a parcel of land, including a gold mine and a farm he named \"Sajonia\" (the Spanish spelling of his home region in Germany, Saxony). In 1908 he planted his first coffee tree. Today, Fincas Mierisch operates nine coffee farms in Nicaragua and three in Honduras.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore than 100 years later, the family business is run by his grandson, Dr. Erwin Mierisch Buitrago (third generation), and great-great-grandson Erwin \"Wingo\" Mierisch Jackman (fifth generation).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eErick Lopez is the Head Agronomist of the Mierisch farms. He started his career at entry level 22 years ago working in the fields. Recognising his talent and commitment, the family promoted him and funded further education, enabling him to progress into his current leadership position. He now oversees much of the practical operation of the farms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Fincas Mierisch team includes many employees who have worked with the family for years, and their expertise and dedication make the quality of both the coffee and the service they provide possible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProcessing\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe family’s wet mill for La Huella sits right on the edge of the farm, located between La Huella and Mama Mina. This is where coffee harvested from both farms is collected to be cleaned and floated, removing under-ripe, over-ripe, and damaged cherries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor Washed and Honey coffees, cherries are also depulped here as required. The mill uses state-of-the-art eco-pulpers, which significantly reduce water usage while offering precise control over the amount of mucilage left on the bean, a crucial factor for processing consistency.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll coffees, whether Naturals in cherry or Washed and Honey lots in parchment, are then transported to the separate dry mill a short drive down the hill.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Don Esteban mill, located at a lower altitude than the farms, serves as the central processing hub for the Mierisch family's farms in the Matagalpa region. Named in honour of the family patriarch, the mill is engineered with precision and flexibility in mind, allowing the team to adapt processing methods to suit each varietal and lot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDepending on the desired outcome, coffees are either fermented in tiled tanks or dried slowly on covered African-style raised beds, allowing for clean and traceable expressions of origin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo read all about Washed processing, check out our article here: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ozonecoffee.co.uk\/blogs\/coffee-processing-explained\/washed-processed-coffee\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWashed Processed Coffee Explained\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCoffee With Stripes?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile Roland was visiting La Huella in 2024, Wingo mentioned that they appeared to have two different types of Orange Bourbon on the farm. Some fruit displays a uniform colour all over, while others show distinctive tiger-like stripes of pale and dark orange. Normally all of these cherries are processed together, but he wondered whether separating them might reveal a different flavour profile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe asked the pickers to separate the striped cherries and ended up with a tiny experimental lot of just two kilograms. We cupped it together and were blown away. It was a delicious coffee, reminiscent of strawberry fondant chocolates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoland thought it was so good that he immediately asked for the following year's Orange Bourbon crop to be completely separated so that we could buy the striped portion. After a year of gently reminding Wingo about it, we finally secured a single sack of this very special coffee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the success of the first crop, we're thrilled to have managed to buy it again this year. There is just one bag, and we've got it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom conversations with Luis Rodriguez, who helps run Finca San Jose in El Salvador, we know that the Amarangia coffee we buy from them (a mix of Orange and Yellow Bourbon) produces only striped orange cherries rather than solid orange fruit. Other farms produce exclusively solid-orange Orange Bourbon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo while striped fruit itself is not unique to La Huella, the interesting thing is that both expressions exist side by side on the same farm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether it's technically correct to call this a different varietal remains uncertain. What we can say with confidence is that this coffee tastes distinctly different from the farm's standard Orange Bourbon. We've also cupped the solid-orange selection separately. It's very nice and offers a slightly heavier body than other Bourbons, but it doesn't have quite the same wow factor as the striped version.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe're delighted to have secured this lot. It's a wonderful example of what can happen when you work closely with long-term partners at origin, constantly experimenting and collaborating in pursuit of exceptional coffees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTraceability\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCountry:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nicaragua\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommunity:\u003c\/strong\u003e El Arenal\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e Matagalpa\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFarm:\u003c\/strong\u003e La Huella\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProducers:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Mierisch Family\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFarm Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 171 hectares\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCoffee Area: \u003c\/strong\u003e76 hectares\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVarietal:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eStriped Orange Bourbon\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProcess:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWashed\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eElevation: \u003c\/strong\u003e1,315-1,400 m.a.s.l.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest Months:\u003c\/strong\u003e December-March\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiurnal Temperature Cycle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Avg High 21°C, Low 15°C\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-GB\" class=\"TextRun SCXW266946151 BCX0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW266946151 BCX0\"\u003eMaps: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ca class=\"Hyperlink SCXW266946151 BCX0\" href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/R3FZKB1wDsWabnD77\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"none\" lang=\"EN-GB\" class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW266946151 BCX0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW266946151 BCX0\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\"\u003eGoogle Maps\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-GB\" class=\"TextRun SCXW266946151 BCX0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW266946151 BCX0\"\u003e \/ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca class=\"Hyperlink SCXW266946151 BCX0\" href=\"https:\/\/maps.apple.com\/?ll=13.051613,-85.853043\u0026amp;q=Dropped%20Pin\u0026amp;_ext=EiQpnXq6Bm0aKkAxfjA5QJh2VcA5nXq6Bm0aKkBBfjA5QJh2VcA%3D\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"none\" lang=\"EN-GB\" class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW266946151 BCX0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW266946151 BCX0\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\"\u003eApple Maps\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\" lang=\"EN-GB\" class=\"TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW266946151 BCX0\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"EOP Selected SCXW266946151 BCX0\" data-ccp-props='{\"134233117\":true,\"134233118\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":240}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCupping Scores\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCupping Notes: Strawberry, passion fruit, black grape.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eCup of Excellence Cupping Scores\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClean Cup:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7\/8\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSweetness:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7.5\/8\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAcidity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6.5\/8\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMouthfeel:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6\/8\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlavour:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7\/8\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAftertaste:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6.5\/8\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBalance:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6\/8\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOverall:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7.5\/8\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCorrection:\u003c\/strong\u003e +36\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal: 90\/100\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIf you'd like to find out more about how we score coffees, make sure to read our blog post “\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ozonecoffee.co.uk\/blogs\/journal\/what-do-coffee-cupping-scores-actually-mean\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWhat Do Coffee Cupping Scores Actually Mean?\u003c\/a\u003e” and if you'd like to try cupping yourself, we've got a guide to that too!\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ozonecoffee.co.uk\/blogs\/journal\/coffee-cupping\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWhat is Coffee Cupping\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRoasting Information\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMedium - This coffee needs a deft touch - let it run through first and into the gap, but not too far towards second or you'll lose the vibrant fruit sweetness.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nicaragua","offers":[{"title":"Beans \/ 220g","offer_id":56222482497921,"sku":"C11 220B","price":17.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Beans \/ 500g","offer_id":56222482530689,"sku":"C11 500B","price":34.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Beans \/ 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220MF","price":17.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Medium Filter \/ 500g","offer_id":56222482825601,"sku":"C11 500MF","price":34.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Medium Filter \/ 1kg","offer_id":56222482858369,"sku":"C11 1MF","price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Coarse Filter \/ 220g","offer_id":56222482891137,"sku":"C11 220CF","price":17.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Coarse Filter \/ 500g","offer_id":56222482923905,"sku":"C11 500CF","price":34.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Coarse Filter \/ 1kg","offer_id":56222482956673,"sku":"C11 1CF","price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for French Press \/ 220g","offer_id":56222482989441,"sku":"C11 220P","price":17.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for French Press \/ 500g","offer_id":56222483022209,"sku":"C11 500P","price":34.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for French Press \/ 1kg","offer_id":56222483054977,"sku":"C11 1P","price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Green Unroasted \/ 220g","offer_id":56222483087745,"sku":"C11 220GB","price":14.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Green Unroasted \/ 1kg","offer_id":56222483120513,"sku":"C11 1GB","price":42.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0023\/1572\/files\/OZONE_coffee_bag_LaHuellastriped.png?v=1790844873","url":"https:\/\/ozonecoffee.co.uk\/products\/nicaragua-la-huella-striped-orange-bourbon","provider":"Ozone Coffee UK","version":"1.0","type":"link"}