Nicaraguan Canta Gallo FTO SHG EP

Description

Go all the way back to the beginning of coffee’s fair trade movement and you will find Promotora de Desarrollo Cooperativo de Las Segovias (PRODECOOP). Established in 1992, PRODECOOP now has a history of more than 25 years as a model cooperative in the coffee supply chain.  PRODECOOP is an umbrella organization by design, meaning its primary purpose is to cover nearly 40 community based cooperatives operating in the department of Esteli, Madriz, and Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua. PRODECOOP focuses on creating access to credit for producers and investing in social programs on a larger and more impactful scale using the collective resources generated from the sale of coffee.  Environmental training programs, healthcare initiatives, life insurance, and educational opportunities are just some of the ways PRODECOOP strives to support community based cooperatives and improve the quality of life for coffee producers and their families.  PRODECOOP also operates a centrally located dry mill facility and cupping lab where coffee is received, processed and selected for export.  Preparing coffee for export is a vital resource for local cooperatives, which ensures traceability and quality control throughout the post harvest process. This particular lot is named after the community cooperative called Cooperativa Multifuncional Héroes y Mártires de Cantagallo R.L. (Cantagallo- the Rooster’s Crow in English), which has 85 producer members who cultivate, harvest and process coffee at farm level micro-mills before delivering dried parchment to PRODECOOP. The consistent quality of Cantagallo year after year is attributable in part to PRODECOOP and in part to the small cooperatives, which provide tailored grassroots organization and commitment for the communities where they operate.

Tasting Notes: Rich, sweet and malty, a good example of Nicaraguan coffee. Best from a medium to dark roast. Medium bodied cup with lower acidity and a sweet edge. A hint of citric crispness at the medium roast level. 2nd crack or darker the cup will be bolder with no citric component, adding some complimenting smokiness into the malty dark tones. We did also enjoy this coffee at a light roast; a softer and sweeter cup but will risk a little earthy/nutty/grassy if too light.

Roasting Notes: Easy bean to roast for medium or dark roast fans.  Very fresh decent looking beans with medium chaff levels but will roast pretty two toned. One can tell its a co-op production with a couple different strains & densities (altitudes the coffee came from). A little more challenging to hit lighter roast points. Touching second crack is a good & easy starting point but many will like taking it a shade or two lighter.