Primos Coffee Co. 10 Lb, Single Origin Unroasted Green Coffee Beans, Special Grade Of A Single Nicaraguan Estate, Direct Trade (Caturra Variety)

Q: What exactly does "Produced sustainably with the highest standards for our fellow Nicaraguans" mean? Fair trade?

Hello Ulysses,Great question! Our family has been producing coffee for four generations and we want to continue for many more. To do this, we are committed to sustainable practices including the highest social, economic and environmental standards for our fellow Nicaraguans and natural resources. Fair trade does include sustainability but it is focused on obtaining better trading conditions for small farmer co-operatives. Our coffee is not traded through a co-operative but rather directly - meaning you are purchasing directly from the farmer. Hope that answers your question!Primos Coffee Co.

Q: Is wet washing used for these beans?

Washing, where the beans are wet processed and flotation is used to remove bad cherries, is one of two possible preparation methods for coffee, the other being dry or 'natural' preparation. Washing is much more common globally and is a more reliable way of producing fine coffees. Almost all coffee originating in the Americas is washed. With natural or dry coffees, where the coffee cherry is sun dried and then hulled, much more hand labor is required to produce a good result, and these coffees are often, although not exclusively of African origin. There are also washed African coffees of course. Note that washing has nothing to do with a decaffeination process.

Q: Are these beans viable, so they may be germinated to grow coffee plants?

No, James B., these beans will not germinate to grow coffee plants. They have had their last layer of parchment removed and that must be intact for the beans to germinate. Sorry!