Asociación de Cafés Especiales de Nicaragua

How long have you been a CQI In-Country Partner (ICP)?

11 years

What does it mean to your company/organization to be an ICP?

It means that we are an organization that represents the interests of the coffee industry in my country and that CQI relies on everything we have done so far, which is a great honor.

Provide a summary of what your company/organization accomplishes and include mission if applicable:

The most important goal has been to place Nicaragua within the specialty coffees in the world and establish the system of "Direct Trade" between buyers and producers. The Specialty Coffee Association of Nicaragua wants to achieve the positioning of special Nicaraguan coffees both in the international and national markets in order to obtain better prices. We aim to portray Nicaragua as a producer of special coffees in homologous forums and the international market, focusing and differentiating the marketing of coffee as well as using education to accumulate knowledge about quality and promotion of excellent coffee. We want to benefit our members and their communities and of all coffee actors without distinction.

What is your relationship with CQI/the Q Program?

We are the country coordinator.

Please list project work or national course offerings you helped coordinate.

Up to now nothing yet, but in our country the situation is really difficult.

What do you think are the opportunities of CQI's Q Coffees program?

Using different processing methods and encourage more people to become Q Graders.

What do you think are the benefits of being a CQI ICP?

The Nicaraguan cuppers being able to become Q Graders and be proud of their education and abilities.

Anything else you'd like to add?

We would like more calibration courses in our country.

What do you think could be done to improve / increase Q Coffees in the market?

To Implement a system to verify the existence of coffee lots and more marketing about the Q Certification program.

Does your company benefit from hosting Q Evaluations as an ICP? If so, how?

Yes, we offer Q Graders the opportunity to Calibrate.

How does your organization benefit from being an ICP?

We share with CQI the vision and activities that improve coffee quality.