Grounds for Renewal

Rony is a third-generation coffee farmer and the first in his family to focus exclusively on specialty coffee. He has been involved in the family farm since the age of 10 and took over in 2013 when it was still known as Finca Fila Quemada—a name derived from an incident when the farm burned down for unknown reasons.

In 2015 and 2016, This Side Up purchased coffee from Rony, but financial challenges caused by the then-exporting partner forced a pause in operations and the temporary discontinuation of This Side Up’s work in Nicaragua. Despite losing almost everything, Rony has spent the past three years steadily restoring his farm and making progress. With the support of the new group Madroño, This Side Up has been able to renew its partnership with Rony, bringing his coffee back to Europe. This trade relationship plays a vital role in aiding his recovery and supporting his vision for the future.

Rony's farm is located in an area called La Explosión, 17 kilometers north of the town of San Fernando, at altitudes ranging from 1,450 to 1,630 meters above sea level. The primary varieties grown are red and yellow Catuai, and this year, Rony plans to introduce pink Bourbon and Geisha to diversify his offerings.

Producing specialty coffee brings Rony satisfaction and joy, especially as he fosters direct relationships with roasters who value his work. Looking ahead, he remains committed to fully restoring his farm and building a sustainable future through direct trade partnerships.

 
 

CULTIVARS

Catuai (Rojo, Amarillo)

elevation

1450-1630 MASL

NOTABLE

The coffee undergoes a 100% traditional washed process, which is considered the best method to highlight the attributes of this region. This process results in coffees with distinct floral notes and a well-defined acidity. While alternative processes have been tested, they have not consistently produced exceptional results in this area. Future experiments are planned with newly introduced varieties, such as pink Bourbon and Geisha, to explore additional possibilities.

 

PROCESSING

WASHED : This coffee is processed using a 100% traditional washed method. After the daily harvest, it is pulped in the afternoon and left to ferment in piles, with fermentation times varying from 15 to 24 hours or more depending on weather conditions. Once fermentation is complete, the coffee is thoroughly washed and then dried thereafter until the desired moisture level is reached.

TASTIFY™ CUPPING NOTES

2025 SAMPLES

Rony Herrera - washed

 

  • The price you pay for Rony’s washed coffee p/kg. We agreed on this price directly with the farmers, disregarding the volatile US Coffee C price.

  • Here the farm gate is inclusive of the all the costs incurred by the farmer to also deliver the coffees to the mill. Depending on whether the farmer owns a mill or drying facility, we have facilitated a contract in cooperation with our farmer friends and exporting partners to invoke the rest of services needed to get the green coffee ready for export. All the farmers in the Nicaraguan ensemble are paid a fixed price for their coffees (Washed/Natural). Farmers are paid premium price for their experimental processing methods.

  • Santa Lucila is a dry milling and export facility. It offers various services including milling, grain pro & jute bag purchase and designing, exporting the coffees between Nicaragua and Netherlands. Depending on the services required by the farmer, Santa Lucila is flexible in it’s arrangement. This farmer requires all the services offered by Santa Lucila.

  • International shipping from Ocotal Nicaragua to Rotterdam, Netherlands. It is inclusive of freight, customs, insurance and warehousing costs.

  • Average financing cost owed to (mostly social) lenders. This ensures immediate payment to the farmers when the coffee leaves the farm or port. This is also includes stock surcharge, storage fee and customs/

  • A standard TSU premium on all coffees designated exclusively to accelerate farmers’ own regenerative agriculture project.Read more about the regenerative projects done by Ramon here. (Link coming soon).

  • This Side Up compensation for spending time and resources importing this coffee. Our work includes year-round contact with producers, managing export, shipping, import, warehousing, grading, sampling, finding and keeping roasting partners for Rony. € 1,22 is This Side Up’s Model 1 markup. For a full overview of our modular margin construction, see the Trade Models page

 

Contact rony herrera

Rony speaks Spanish and can be reached directly through calls or Whatsapp.

TEL : +505 8518 4288

 

Photo gallery

You may use these videos freely to promote Rony’s coffee amongst your customers.