| > | | | | and is mainly used as a blending coffee. |
| A discussion of the coffees from the Central | | | | There are some excellent varieties grown, but they |
| American region | | | | are often blended before they are exported. Beans |
| In this article we discuss the coffees from the Central | | | | are named after the growing regions, including Santa |
| American region. | | | | Barbara, as well as Copan, Ocotepeque, Lempira, La |
| Mexican Coffee | | | | Paz and El Paraiso. |
| Mexico is the seventh largest coffee producer in the | | | | Costa Rican Coffee |
| world, most of which is of the arabica variety from the | | | | Costa Rica only produces high quality arabica coffee |
| southern part of the country, where it is grown by | | | | that display a full body and clean, robust acidity that |
| smallholders and sold on to the National co-operative. | | | | makes it among the most revered of all Central |
| Vera Cruz State, on the gulf side of the central | | | | American coffee. |
| mountain range, produces mostly lowland coffees, but | | | | It is grown primarily in the countryside surrounding the |
| coffees called Altura (High) Coatepec, from a | | | | capital, San Jose, on rich, well-drained volcanic soil |
| mountainous region near the city of that name, have | | | | above 3000 feet. |
| an excellent reputation. | | | | The most famous coffees are San Marcos de |
| Chiapas and Tapachula coffee is grown in the | | | | Tarrazu, Tres Rios, Heredia, and Alajuela. La Minita is a |
| mountains of the southeastern most corner of Mexico | | | | well-publicized estate in the Tarrazu district of Costa |
| near the border with Guatemala and has a delicate | | | | Rica that produces an excellent coffee - reputed to |
| light flavour similar to the well-known Oaxaca. | | | | be the most meticulously prepared in the world. |
| Primo Lavado (prime washed) is a grade of Mexico | | | | Nicaraguan Coffee |
| coffee that includes most of its' finest. | | | | Situated between Honduras and Costa Rica, the |
| Mexico is also the worlds' main source of maragogype | | | | coffees of Nicaragua display a characteristic more of |
| beans, which are extra large and some experts | | | | the former than of the latter. They are coffees in the |
| consider produce the very best coffee. | | | | classic Central-American style but usually |
| Guatemalan Coffee | | | | undistinguished - being medium-bodied, |
| As the second largest producer in Central America | | | | straightforwardly acidy, with reasonable flavour. |
| (and 8th in the world) Guatemala is another main | | | | El Salvadorian Coffee |
| source of the maragogype bean. | | | | Despite being the smallest country on the American |
| The best Guatemalan coffees have a very distinct, | | | | continent, El Salvador ranks 15th in world coffee |
| spicy, and (when dark roasted), display a unique smoky | | | | production. This hasn't always been the case, as |
| flavour that sets them apart from all other coffees. | | | | political problems have regularly beset this densely |
| They are very acidy, with the spiciness or smokiness | | | | populated country. |
| coming across as within the acidy tones, and are | | | | El Salvador's arabica coffees tend toward softer, less |
| medium to full in body and rich in flavour. | | | | acidy versions of the classic Central America flavour |
| High grown beans (Strictly Hard Bean) grade | | | | profile and are often used in blending. The best |
| coffees(such as Antigua) from the central highlands | | | | high-grown coffees are from trees of the Bourbon |
| tend to have a rich, spicy or floral acidity with excellent | | | | and Pacamara varieties and the taste can be fragrant |
| body characteristic. Coffees from mountainous areas | | | | and complex. |
| exposed to either Pacific or Caribbean weather, | | | | Strictly High-Grown is the highest grade of El Salvador |
| display a bit less acidity and more fruit. | | | | coffee. |
| Honduran Coffee | | | | Look out for my other articles in this series on the |
| Honduran arabica coffee is ninth of world's leading | | | | coffee growing regions of the world. |
| coffee producers, yet most of it is fairly undistinguished | | | | |