14 Montesol Nicaragua 2023

After a prolonged hiatus, Montesol Coffee Estate is delighted to have made a comeback to this year’s COE.  Over the years, we have had four top-tier COE awards under our belt; having our best showing in 2010, reaching 4th place, with a score of 90.70.

This distinct, shade-grown Pacamara lot was harvested at an elevation of 1,250 MASL.  It was meticulously hand-picked during peak ripeness, then double sorted and floated. Thereafter, it underwent a painstaking 28 days slow-drying, natural process in raised African beds.  It is worth noting that the beds were enclosed in an automatically-ventilated greenhouse.  Once dried, the coffee was allowed to rest in a temperature and humidity-controlled cellar for 22 days.

Montesol is nestled atop Mount Dominico, in the scenic Jinotega highlands, flanked to the east by Lake Apanas.  Our journey began 26 years ago with a simple vision – finding a terroir ideally suited to cultivate world-class specialty coffees.  In so doing, we came upon the organoleptic trifecta; deep, nutrient rich, well-drained soils, an optimal microclimate insulated by old-growth, cloud-forests and an altitude that ranges between 1,150 to 1,300 MASL.

We are second generation, vertically-integrated coffee producer and exporter of a forward-looking, mid-size coffee estate led by an impassioned and driven multidisciplinary team.  A team who is near and dear to us – many, have been with us for more than two decades and the vast majority hail from the nearby communities.  We try not to lose sight of the fact that our coffee is the collective expression of the hundreds of collaborators who devote their lives to nurturing the best varietals from seed to bean. Invariably, our zeal for quality comes to fruition through this rich tapestry of skills and skill-sets that are artfully orchestrated by seasoned experts.  Ultimately, it is the passion for what we do and the dedication of those who make it possible that continues to spur and sustain our commitment to excellence and to our environmental stewardship.

The convergence of art and science, required to bring coffee to life, is a singular human endeavor.  It is an eminently interdependent and interconnected experience.  More often than not, it binds us by seamlessly bridging the divide between origins and consumers, unlike any other commodity, via a continuous through-line, from crop to shop, that touches the lives and livelihoods of millions around the world. As we try to live up to that shared purpose, we are always mindful that we are in the business of enhancing the lives of those that produce as well as those who enjoy our coffee.

Hacienda Montesol geographical coordinates: 13°15'55”N 85°56'37”W

Google Earth link: https://earth.google.com/web/search/hacienda+Montesol,+Jinotega+Nicaragua