Nicaragua Lo Prometido Java

Lo Prometido Java is a new coffee from an old friend – a naturally processed coffee of the variety Java from Luis Alberto Balladarez's farm Lo Prometido. You may also recognise him as the producer behind Un Regalo de Dios and La Bendición. Just as we launch this coffee, Pernilla & Johan are visiting Luis Alberto and his family. You can follow their journey on our Instagram.

Luis Alberto Balladarez owns several coffee farms, including Lo Prometido, where he grows the Java variety, among others. This coffee variety was long considered a Typica variant until genetic analyses showed that it is actually a selection of an Ethiopian variety called Abyssinia. The variety was introduced to the island of Java directly from Ethiopia by the Dutch in the early 1800s. In the mid-1900s, it spread to Cameroon, and in 1991 it was brought to Costa Rica, where it was planted for the first time, marking its introduction to Central America.

Luis' innovative methods, such as planting guava trees to create shade, improve soil health and biodiversity, resulting in vibrant, terroir-driven flavours. At all of his farms, each harvest is processed with the utmost care to ensure that every berry is picked when it is full of sweetness, guaranteeing a cup that reflects his tireless commitment to creating structured coffees.

Balladarez Java has a smooth and rounded flavour profile with notes of dried fruit, raisins and chocolate.

Each of Luis's farms is divided into so-called plantios (cultivation plots) based on altitude above sea level, and the coffee is then further separated by variety. Even batches harvested and processed on the same day can exhibit subtle differences, making them better suited to a specific processing method.

MORE ABOUT LUIS ALBERTO BALLADAREZ

Luis Alberto Balladarez comes from a long line of coffee growers in northern Nicaragua. While many exporters operate in Ocotal, the capital of Nueva Segovia, his washing station, Las Segovias, stands out for its strong focus on specialty coffee and carefully produced micro-lots.

What makes Luis Alberto particularly prominent among the region's producers is that he not only processes coffee, but also owns and runs several farms of his own. The success of these farms has earned him great trust among other growers in the area, who also choose to hire him to process their coffee. He runs the farms and his business together with his three children.

Luis Alberto has an exceptional eye for quality and is extremely meticulous in every step of the process – from cultivation to finished, export-ready coffee beans. All of his coffees are grown in the Dipilto–Jalapa mountain range in northern Nueva Segovia, at altitudes between 1,350 and 1,700 metres above sea level.