BLACK DOG COFFEE

The latest edition of Black Dog takes us to the mountains of Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua. This lot, called Linda Vista, comes from two farms in the community of Las Manos: Finca Santa Isabel and Finca Mirjam.

There’s a lovely mix of history and new beginnings here. Santa Isabel has been in the same family for more than seventy years, while Mirjam began its next chapter in 2025, when it was bought by an experienced speciality coffee producer who also co-owns the local dry mill, Cafetos de Segovia.

At around 1,220–1,250 metres above sea level, both farms grow their coffee beneath a canopy of native trees, plantains and fruit trees. Composted coffee pulp forms part of their approach to feeding the soil, while careful pruning and shade management help keep the trees healthy. Santa Isabel also preserves a separate 15-hectare area of untouched forest.

Once picked, ripe cherries are carefully sorted before processing. Both farms’ coffees eventually make their way to Cafetos de Segovia, where they’re stored, dry milled and prepared for export.

For me, these details are part of what makes seasonal coffee interesting. Black Dog is a familiar name, but each new edition is a chance to share a different place and the work of the people growing coffee there.