Finca Sunderland Natural H1, Nicaragua

Flavour profile: A sweet aroma of strawberry. Flavour notes of chunky homemade strawberry jam, with melted butter and a distinctive honey dew melon acidity in the finish 

Colour: Red 
Category: Adventurous
Producer: Stephen Leighton
Varietal: H1
Process: Natural
Location: Matagalpa region 
Harvest: March 2025
Elevation: 1100 meters above sea level
Price transparency: The FOB price paid for this coffee was $5/lb.

This is the second harvest of Finca Sunderland Natural H1, produced by our very own Steven Leighton. Steven was generously gifted a small parcel of land by long-time producer partners and friends, the Mierisch family, in early 2023 and has been working hard for this moment ever since. 

Named after Steven's favourite football club, Finca Sunderland consists of 2 manzanas of land (approximately 2 hectares) on the Mierisch’s well established 119 hectare farm, Finca Limoncillo in Nicaragua. Here two of Steven’s favourite coffee varietals, Yellow Pacamara and H1 Centroamericano, were planted and are being managed separately from the mature Javanica, Red Catuaí, Red Bourbon and other varietals grown nearby. H1 Centroamericano is a high-yielding, leaf rust-resistant hybrid that has really good cup quality potential, making it an ideal choice for the terroir.

One of Steven’s primary motivations with Finca Sunderland is to gain a full understanding of the costs of production and the challenges facing coffee producers. After decades in the coffee business being involved in export, import, roasting, marketing, cafes, brewing, and competitions, production was the only missing piece of the puzzle. He’s hopeful this incredible opportunity will provide him with invaluable insight and ultimately lead to a more efficient and sustainable approach to coffee trade. It should also be a lot of fun!

For more on Stephen Leighton's journey with Finca Sunderland, click here.