Little Saint Nic' - Christmas Blend

Origin: 100% Nicaragua
Producer: 50% Finca Los Jilgueros; 50% Las Hortensias
Process: 50% Natural; 50% Washed
Varietal: 50% Pacamara; 50% Red Catuai

Tasting Notes: All-Butter Shortbread, Toffee Apple, Vanilla Custard

It's our first Christmas, and it's also the first Christmas for our good friends at Outset Coffee in Shrewsbury! So we thought we'd get our heads together to collaborate on something pretty special; a first Christmas blend for us both!

Full Spectrum's Tom, and Jake from Outset, are both huge fans of South American coffees. So when an amazing Pacamara varietal from Nicaragua landed on the cupping table, we both knew it was going to be something special.

Pacamara is a really quite rare varietal, characterised by yielding some HUGE beans, but being very susceptible to a lot of diseases. This, and its need to be grown at high altitudes, makes it a scarce and sought after lot when it comes up.

The lot we managed to secure, from Finca Los Jilgueros, blew us away with its brightness and uncanny toffee apple sweetness, coupled with a mellow warmth that reminded us or that feeling you get when you're sat with good friends and family after an indulgent festive meal.

Once we paired it with our regular Las Hortensias Nicaraguan, we knew we had the secret sauce. The buttery body of this coffee perfectly complimented the Pacamara's brightness, and created a rich and indulgent combination that evoked the unmistakable vibe of that tin of shortbread that everyone's nan has at Christmas.

Not bad for Full Spectrum's first blend, and a Christmas one at that!

Merry Christmas,

From Full Spectrum and Outset

ABOUT THE PRODUCERS

FINCA LOS JILGUEROS

The Peralta Family coffee-growing history dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, but it was only in 2008 that brothers Julio and Octavio shifted focus to developing unique specialty preparations. This 100% Pacamara variety, single-plot microlot utilises a raised bed natural process with an extended anaerobic cherry fermentation.

LAS HORTENSIAS

Las Hortensias farm, owned by Ana María Albir Sotomayor, has been in her family for over 50 years. The farm, named after the hydrangeas that grow there, spans about 2 hectares at altitudes between 1200 and 1300 meters.

The farm specializes in coffee grown with eco-friendly and sustainable methods. Forest species, fruit trees, and banana plants provide shade, creating a healthy environment for the coffee plants. The farm focuses on sustainability from social, economic, and environmental angles.