Why You Need to Try Coffee from These 4 Incredible Countries
There’s something special about a cup of coffee that can instantly transport you to another place. If you’ve ever wanted to add a little adventure to your morning routine, then it might be time to explore coffee from different countries. Not only does each country bring unique flavors, but they each have a story and culture that’s woven into the beans themselves. In this guide, we’ll take a tour of four incredible coffee-growing countries—Nicaragua, Ethiopia, El Salvador, and Costa Rica—each offering something distinct to elevate your home-brewed cup.
Nicaragua: Chocolatey and Nutty
A Smooth Start to Your Morning
Nicaraguan coffee is known for being balanced, smooth, and slightly nutty. It’s one of those coffees that feels comforting and familiar, like an old friend who always shows up with exactly what you need. Our dark roasted Nicaragua is a favorite in our café, with a rich and chocolatey taste without any of the bitterness that sometimes comes with typical darker roasts.
What Makes Nicaraguan Coffee Unique
Nicaragua’s volcanic soil and high altitudes make it an ideal environment for growing coffee beans with deep, complex flavors. Many coffee farms in Nicaragua are small and family-run, with a commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. These farms put extra care into their crops just as we put extra care into our roasts, and you can taste it in every sip.
Brewing Nicaraguan Coffee at Home
For Nicaraguan coffee, try using a French Press or a pour-over to bring out its nutty, smooth profile. These methods emphasize its rich body and subtle chocolate notes. A French Press is particularly great for those who enjoy a bolder, fuller-bodied coffee, while a pour-over can bring out more nuanced flavors in the beans. When using these methods of brewing, it’s best to use a coarse grind. Visit the country of Nicaragua through your taste buds with our small batch roasted Nicaraguan coffee beans. In our café we use Nicaragua as our house iced coffee. To brew your own at home, order regular grind Nicaragua, brew with a standard drip coffee maker, then place your coffee in the fridge until chilled. Serve over ice and enjoy!
Why You’ll Love It
Nicaraguan coffee is incredibly versatile. Whether you’re looking for a hot comforting mellow morning brew or an iced energetic afternoon pick-me-up, this is a coffee that hits all the right notes without overwhelming your palate.
Ethiopia: Fruity and Floral
A Taste of Coffee’s Birthplace
Ethiopia is widely considered the birthplace of coffee, and its coffee beans reflect centuries of tradition and expertise. Ethiopian coffee often features fruity, earthy, and sometimes even wine-like flavors. We love the unique flavor profiles that emerge from this African coffee. We bring Ethiopian beans to a nice balanced medium roast. The flavors from Ethiopia are just as delicious in a hot brew as they are as cold brew. Cold brew is a brewing method different from iced coffee. The 20-24 hour process consists of steeping coarse ground beans in cold water (in the fridge) to create a delicious low acidic and smooth sipping coffee.
What Makes Ethiopian Coffee Unique
Ethiopia’s diverse microclimates create beans with incredibly complex flavors. Ethiopian beans are often naturally processed, a method that enhances their fruity characteristics. Different regions, like Yirgacheffe and Sidamo, bring their own distinctive notes, with flavors ranging from berries and citrus to jasmine and bergamot. Ethiopian coffee is an experience in itself—a vibrant and unexpected twist on traditional coffee. We often keep beans from the Sidamo region in stock, but have also experienced the incredible uniqueness of the Sidamo Guji variant.
How to Brew Ethiopian Coffee at Home
To appreciate the delicate floral and fruity notes of Ethiopian coffee, use a pour-over, cold brew, or standard drip brew method. These brewing methods allow the complex flavors to shine through, creating a clean, bright cup that lets you taste every nuance. We recommend experimenting with grind size to find the perfect balance of clarity and flavor.
Why You’ll Love It
If you enjoy light, fruity, or tea-like flavors, Ethiopian coffee will bring an exciting twist to your morning routine. It’s a great choice for those days when you want a lighter, brighter cup that’s packed with flavor.
El Salvador: Smooth and Sweet
A Sweet, Cozy Cup
Coffee from El Salvador is known for its clean, smooth body with a gentle sweetness. This coffee often has notes of caramel and cocoa, making it a perfect choice for those who enjoy a rich, dessert-like coffee. We’ve always found El Salvadoran coffee to be incredibly approachable; it’s the type of coffee that can win over just about anyone.
What Makes El Salvadoran Coffee Unique
El Salvadoran coffee is often grown on volcanic soil at high altitudes, which gives it a sweet, well-rounded flavor. Many of the coffee farms in El Salvador prioritize eco-friendly practices, focusing on sustainable farming to produce high-quality beans. This country’s dedication to responsible farming practices and high-quality beans makes El Salvadoran coffee an easy choice for both taste and conscience.
How to Brew El Salvadoran Coffee at Home
El Salvadoran coffee is wonderfully versatile and works well in a drip coffee maker or an Aeropress. These methods bring out its sweetness without overpowering its delicate flavors. Personally, I love using the Aeropress to brew this coffee because it makes for a smooth, concentrated cup that really highlights its caramel notes.
Why WE Love It
El Salvador holds a special place in our hearts as it was the birthplace of our small business. Many years ago our founder, David Tilton, quit his corporate American job to go on a mission trip to El Salvador with no plan for what would come after he returned home. Not only did he find incredible people in El Salvador who despite facing struggles, have joy in their day to day lives, but he also found hope. Hope for a brighter future for those born into lives with less educational opportunities, less safety, less resources. Dave coached youth soccer, a program created with the intention to give children a safe place, a community. He helped build houses for those who were in need. And he discovered his passion of helping others. And suddenly Coffé Amor was born. Coffé = Coffee + fé. Fé in spanish means “faith”. Amor means love. And Dave decided that Coffé Amor was going to spread God’s love through something he loved: coffee.
Read more about the organization that Dave traveled with on his mission trip to El Salvador: https://cfci.org/
Costa Rica: Bright and Citrusy
A Refreshing, Vibrant Cup
Costa Rican coffee is known for its bright acidity and clean, citrusy flavors, offering a refreshing and vibrant coffee experience. It’s like a burst of sunshine, and it’s one of those coffees that leaves you feeling refreshed rather than weighed down. Costa Rican coffee is our lightest roast while still holding the integrity of the beans. We rotate our Costa Rica variations between Tarrazú, La Rosa, and West Valley. You can see which we currently have in stock here!
What Makes Costa Rican Coffee Unique
Costa Rica is dedicated to producing high-quality coffee, with a law requiring that only Arabica beans can be grown in the country. This focus on quality, along with the ideal growing conditions in regions like Tarrazú, results in beans that are balanced, bright, and full of character. Costa Rica’s commitment to quality coffee makes it one of the top choices for those who appreciate a well-crafted cup.
How to Brew Costa Rican Coffee at Home
To fully appreciate the bright and citrusy notes of Costa Rican coffee, try brewing it with a drip coffee maker. This method will highlight its crisp, clean flavors, and it’s easy for home use.
Why You’ll Love It
Costa Rican coffee is ideal for those who love a lively, refreshing coffee with a hint of citrus. It’s a great option if you prefer a morning coffee that’s energizing without being too intense.
Don’t forget, grind matters!
Use fine ground coffee when brewing espresso with an espresso machine. Use a regular grind for standard household drip coffee makers. Coarse grind is best for pour overs, french press, and cold brew. And if you have your own grinder at home, it is recommended to buy whole bean from a roastery and grind it yourself at home! While there’s nothing wrong with pre-ground coffee, whole bean coffee will hold the flavor and freshness the longest!
Taste the World from Your Kitchen
Exploring coffee from around the world is a fun and delicious way to add variety to your morning brew. Each country brings its own unique flavors and traditions to the beans, offering you a small taste of global culture and history. Whether you’re drawn to the smooth, balanced profile of Nicaraguan coffee or the bright, citrusy flavors of Costa Rican beans, there’s a coffee out there that’s waiting to become your new favorite.
So next time you’re shopping for coffee beans, consider trying something new. Grab a bag from one of these incredible countries and let it transport you on a flavorful journey. You might just find that the perfect cup is waiting for you somewhere across the globe! Here is our current coffee selection from our small batch roastery in Ohio!