Nicaragua: Limoncillo, Ethiosar, Washed

Finca Limoncillo is located in Matagalpa and, at 171 hectares in size, it. is. huge! Situated at an amazing location, it boasts nine waterfalls within the farm and is owned by the Mierisch family; they’re good friends, and also well-respected producers in Nicaragua. They’re known for their experimental processing, varietal work, and exceptional coffee. We're incredibly proud to have been buying coffee from the Mierisch family since 2007.

So what's this Ethiosar varietal, I hear you ask?

Well, we've been roasting Ethiosar from Finca Limoncillo for quite a few years now, and it’s a coffee with a fascinating backstory rooted in innovation and resilience. The varietal comes from the hard work of the Mierisch family and their cousin Ricardo, who owns a farm near Limoncillo - but at a much lower altitude of just 800 metres above sea level.

Ricardo noticed that his coffee plants were struggling - yields were dropping, and disease pressure was increasing. He attributed this to a combination of factors: climate change, increased rainfall, and the challenges of growing coffee at lower altitudes in Nicaragua. But amidst these challenges, one experimental plant stood out. It was thriving - producing more fruit and showing strong resistance to disease.

That plant was Ethiosar.

Ethiosar is a stable hybrid varietal - a carefully crafted cross designed to combine the best of both worlds: exceptional cup quality and strong disease resistance. It starts with a cross between Sudan Rume (an heirloom Ethiopian variety known for its complex flavors) and Sarchimor (a hybrid of Villa Sarchi and Timor, bred for its resilience). This hybrid is then crossed again with Villa Sarchi, a dwarf mutation of Bourbon from Costa Rica, known for its sweetness and compact growth.

The result? A varietal that’s not only resilient and high-yielding, but also delivers a delicious cup profile.

A rush of sweet, gooey caramel is followed by Brazil nuts before a biscuity edge comes through on the finish and into the aftertaste.

• Country: Nicaragua
• Municipality: Yasica Norte
• Region: Matagalpa
• Farm name: Limoncillo
• Producers: The Mierisch Family
• Farm size: 171 hectares
• Coffee growing area: 109 hectares
• Elevation: 1,200 m.a.s.l.
• Varietal: Ethiosar
• Processing system: Washed

Tasting notes: Caramel, Brazil nut, biscuit.

Cup of Excellence Cupping Scores

• Clean cup: (1–8): 6
• Sweetness: (1–8): 6.5
• Acidity: (1–8): 6
• Mouthfeel: (1–8): 6.5
• Flavour: (1–8): 6
• Aftertaste: (1–8): 6
• Balance: (1–8): 6.5
• Overall: (1–8): 6.5
• Correction: (+36): +36
• Total: (max. 100): 86

Roast Information
Medium-dark: keeping a steady pace here is important as you push it through the gap and right up to the first pops of second as you finish the roast.