For as long as Ana Maria Carrasco can remember, her life has revolved around coffee production and the horticulturally rich atmosphere of her grandparents’ farm. This deep appreciation from her earliest memories has now carried into her adult life, where alongside her husband, Juan Manuel, she has embarked on her own personal journey in coffee production.

Ana Maria admits that the pressures of being a female coffee producer were there from the beginning, but it was her family’s support that gave her unyielding confidence in her abilities. At first, she observed and learned from her husband’s efforts on his newly acquired farm (Mosunse) and, as she describes it, “I wanted to absorb as much information as possible from any resources at my disposal”.

As of the early 2010’s Ana had begun to experiment with unique varietals and had established her own micro lots that she would personally curate and oversee. This led to many failed experiments and frustrations. Her family describe Ana as a relentless and determined person, which certainly served her well during these early days in the field. Tapping into the resources of the Alliance for Coffee Excellence’s (ACE), attending workshops and developing her own methods she began to break through as a producer with her first Micro lot, Las Guatusas. When we were introduced to this coffee, we were immediately drawn to its unique and delicate characteristics which made it a standout amongst other Nicaraguan lots on the cupping table.