Nicaragua

History

Coffee was introduced to Nicaragua in the early 19th century, with commercial cultivation beginning in the 1840s around Managua. By 1870, coffee had become the nation's principal export crop, a dominant economic position it maintained for over a century. The industry experienced significant growth through the mid-20th century, though it was frequently disrupted by political instability, civil war, and natural disasters like the 1998 hurricane. A severe "coffee crisis" between 1999 and 2004 further challenged producers, leading to a strategic shift toward specialty coffee and market linkages for smallholders. Today, Nicaragua has re-established itself as a notable origin, characterized by a high percentage of smallholder farmers who are increasingly experimenting with diverse varieties and processing methods.