Description
One of the most sustainable farms in the world! A wonderful direct relationship coffee. Nicaraguan Selva Negra coffee is cultivated in the most ecologically sustainable and socially responsible way possible. Learn more by reading our Selva Negra Grower Profile.
Selva Negra’s history is in many ways the history of the coffee in Nicaragua altogether. In the 1880’s the Nicaraguan government invited young German immigrants to come and settle in Nicaragua in order to promote coffee growing in the northern highlands. Many accepted the offer, thus forming the main coffee plantations of the country; some estates bear names of their motherlands. Selva Negra means Black Forest, and the coffee estate is called La Hammonia, Latin for Hamburg. Located approximately 4,000 ft. above sea level, La Hammonia has been producing fine old style Arabica coffee for over 100 years. Eddy Kühl & Mausi Kühl-Hayn, the farm’s proprietors are descendants of two of these original German immigrants – Alberto Vogl and Klaus Kühl.
Selva Negra Estate Coffee is grown at a high altitude in a shaded environment. This allows the bean to have a slow development cycle which instills an intense and fulfilling flavor to each bean. The coffee is not only 100% Arabica, but more importantly it is mostly Bourbon and Typica strains (which produce higher quality beans than other varieties of coffee trees). The region of Matagalpa, Nicaragua is mountainous with excellent volcanic soil producing exceptional beans. Finally, the coffee is prepared using an environmentally friendly washing process, which gives the coffee still one more unique quality enhancing aspect.
Tasting Notes:
A very nice and super fresh batch of their traditional farm aggregate. A little hint of citrus floral upfront balanced with nice complex malty tones. Great everyday drinker at a medium roast, balanced with a sweet edge. A heftier cup at the darker roasts and equally as tasty, fuller bodied with strong malty and smoky tones but still retains that sweeter edge to it.
Roasting Notes:
Easy to roast, great prep on the beans and roast pretty even. Make sure hit a medium roast or darker, with being a little lower acidity, not a ton of jazz at those lighter roast points but as you progress the roast it builds that great malty tone that Nicaragua is known for.
Selva Negra means Black Forest – beyond the coffee trees below you can see why.
A great example of a good looking production tree and how the fruit ripens at different times – this is what makes hand picking so necessary for good coffee.
After a hard day of picking…
Finally the reception – every afternoon of picking all the workers gather for the cherry reception – this is where the work for the day will be logged and the start of the processing for the cherry. Normally workers get paid by volume but many farms pay a bonus on quality – too many damaged/under-ripe beans in the pick is bad for everyone
Paul S –
Took this just into second crack ( about 7 seconds ) let it setup for a day or two and was very happy with it. Very smooth, will order again.!
Den –
Thanks Paul S for your suggestion to take this bean into second crack! We were able to achieve a beautiful even dark roast on these beans. The flavor is gracefully balanced yet strong. We will absolutely add this bean to our reorder list.
Paul N. –
I’ve been roasting this as medium roast, taking it off about a minute prior to second crack. Makes a great cup of medium roast coffee.
Luis F. –
The review that Burman has written for this coffee is spot on. I roasted a pound of this coffee to Full City and let it sit for two days. It’s remarkably sweet tasting with zero acidity (pour over). I’m definitely going to come back for more, I have another lb. that I was going to roast a tad bit lighter but I’m really liking how this turned out and can’t wait to pull espresso shots with it!
Michael Polera –
I love so many of Burman’s coffees – I would consider many of them 5 stars, but if so, this one would be six. I have long held that A good Nicaraguan cup is up there with any in the world, comparable for example with Maui estate-grown for a fifth the price. Extremely pleasant, rich cup at anywhere around a full-city roast, total satisfaction.