Cool Beans

This day was all about coffee farming in Matagalpa. We started the day the same as the last with breakfast at the hotel. I forget what I tried that day, but I feel like it included eggs and ham. We had stayed out dancing the night before, but we were all pretty bright eyed as we set out. It was a 3 hour drive to get there, and I was hoping to see some wildlife. Alas, still only dogs, goats, and insects. The mountains were breathtaking though. I felt like I could look out the window all day. Especially after having been in Louisiana for nearly a year! You can see from the videos how dry it is, but how some areas still have some green. Lorenzo was a dear again about answering 100 or so questions.

When we got to the farm we met the owner Mario Cerna (pictured below). He gave us a presentation about coffee farming and his farm specifically. We sipped on some of his finest with little cookies as we listened. I didn't know anything about coffee production so it was very informative. I never imagined how labor intensive the process was! He produces a ridiculous amount of coffee, with so many acres of land, and a ton of workers. Sorry that's pretty vague, but I don't know the numbers anymore. He is the second largest producer in the country. I did write in my journal "huge" and "intense" referring to his operation.

After talking in his home we went to one of his farms. The coffee plant propagation reminded me of Senegalese tree nurseries. They had something like 80,000 plants there. All of the coffee was intercropped with cocoa and plantains. The shade of the plantains helps conserve water. He also had a tall grass wind break. It was a very sustainable process. Way more advanced than I had expected any agriculture there to be. These things are part of his UTZ and Rainforest Alliance certifications.

These are a couple of the guys who worked for Mario.

This is the wind break.

Coffee and Plantains!

I saw some pretty insects on the farm and was hoping to see some monkeys as we went up the mountain to a laguna to eat. The video above is part of the ride up there. I rode in the back of the truck and it was really really bumpy. For every so many acres of farmed land he has to keep some forested area. This helps maintain sustainability by protecting his water supply, and providing habitat for animals. I didn't end up seeing anything, but we could hear all kinds of life moving around out there. We ate our sandwiches, chips, and soda next to the beautiful scenery, did a little photo shoot, and then went back down the mountain. This road was more like a trail, and this time I chose the cab.

The beautiful laguna where we had lunch. It was very foggy, and it was raining a 

What a view from where the beans dry!

He then took us to his "dry mill". This is where the coffee beans get processed. They are sun dried and then sorted by machine. The last step involves women hand picking bad beans off the conveyor belt. He said they occasionally steal beans by "putting them in the boob". They can get as much as a pound a day out in their bras! So they have to be inspected before leaving. I was of the opinion he should just have them work topless like in American Gangster.

These are coffee beans drying outside.

Finally, we went to do a tasting. It's like wine tasting in that you do not swallow it. I was really surprised in the difference between the good and bad coffee. He called instant coffees like Folgers "shitty" coffee, and man he was so right! I don't really drink coffee, but if I were to drink coffee it would be this guys stuff. I brought some back for my major advisor as a gift for letting me have the week off.

Coffee tasting

After the long long day we went to a little cabin on a farm. It was at Selva Negra Ecolodge and Coffee Estate. Their dinner menu included beef and vegetables grown right there. Ecotourism at it's finest. I had re-fried beans and plantains with cheese as an appetizer. They were so good. I could really live off that. Seriously forever, re-fried beans, plantians, and cheese. I also had a steak. The steak in Nicaragua is so good. I don't eat much beef at home either, but when it's what they are known for you have to try it, and it was worth it! There was this parsley garlic sauce that I couldn't get enough of. I'm so hungry writing this that I want to fly down there now. There were geese all around the lake and restaurant area. They were so obnoxious as geese will be. Honking and begging for food, or hissing if you came near their nests.

We ended the night with all of the students and Lorenzo drinking some Flor de Cana Rum in the cabin. Myra was choosing the tunes, and Mercedes came out and danced. We all had some alter ego nicknames. Of course Smemily was there. We made so many jokes and had such a good time. The worrier in me was a little concerned we were going to keep other people awake. I don't know when I started being conscious of others while drinking. It's a new development for sure. Lorenzo showed his true colors and his laugh made me laugh so much harder. Such a great group! Spring Break!!

The lake right outside our cabin.