NICARAGUA

Finca San Antonio

Finca San Antonio has been run by the Mairena family since 1975 who, through their constant pursuit of sustainability, have transformed the plantation into a nature reserve while also integrating into the Central American Biological Corridor.

The estate, which covers dozens of hectares, is surrounded by rainforest, so coffee is grown in the shade of the region’s wild plants. For years the owners have been conducting interesting experiments with specialty coffees to elevate the quality of their products. This coffee is macerated in watertight tanks into which, once the drupes have been washed, gas such as nitrogen or CO2 is added. After several days, intercellular fermentation of the fruit begins through activation of anaerobic metabolism. At the end of the maceration process, the drupes are dried in the sun.

Excellent environmental standards

In the Matagalpa region, among the Isabelia Mountains, is Finca San Antonio. The Günkel Mairena family has been growing coffee for 46 years at Finca San Antonio, where Maria Felícitas Mairena de Günkel is currently leading and managing the 79 hectares of coffee-growing land.
The company applies excellent environmental standards, with most of its coffee grown in the shade within agroforestry systems.

45% of the farm is protected as El Arenal Nature Reserve, home to one of the few intact portions of cloud forest in Nicaragua. In 2001, the farm was even declared a Private Nature Reserve.