Arabica · Coffee Variety
Maracaturra
Maracaturra pairs the giant 'elephant bean' of Maragogipe with Caturra's compact productivity — Nicaragua's counterpart to El Salvador's Pacamara, and the flashiest bean in Central American competition lots. The huge seeds roast strikingly and cup with juicy, exuberant fruit.
It demands altitude and care: the big cherries ripen unevenly and the plant yields modestly, but Nicaraguan farms in Nueva Segovia and Jinotega have made it a Cup of Excellence fixture, with savory-sweet complexity that judges reward.
Maracaturra at a glance
| Species | Arabica |
|---|---|
| Lineage | Maragogipe × Caturra cross developed in Central America |
| Plant stature | Medium-compact with large leaves and fruit |
| Yield potential | Low-medium |
| Disease resistance | Susceptible to rust |
| Optimal altitude | 1,300–1,900 m |
| Bean size | Very large (elephant bean) |
| Cup profile | Juicy tropical and stone fruit with savory-sweet depth and syrupy body |
Where Maracaturra is grown
Maracaturra — frequently asked questions
Maracaturra vs Pacamara — what's the difference?
Same concept, different dwarf parent: Maragogipe crossed with Caturra (Maracaturra) versus with Pacas (Pacamara). Cups are cousins — big, complex, slightly savory — with Maracaturra often juicier and Pacamara more herbal-structured.
Why are the beans so large?
Maragogipe, a Typica mutation, produces coffee's largest seeds; the trait carries through the cross. Screen sizes run 19–20+, requiring adjusted roasting.
Where does Maracaturra excel?
High Nicaraguan farms — Dipilto's ridges and Jinotega's cool slopes — where it headlines Cup of Excellence winning lots.
Sourcing Maracaturra? Volcana Coffee grows and exports high-altitude Catimor, Typica, and washed Fine Robusta from the Bolaven Plateau, Laos — with SGS-inspected quality and full export documentation.
Request a SampleRelated coffee varieties
Typica
Clean, sweet, silky body with delicate citrus and floral notes at altitude.
Bourbon
Caramel sweetness, balanced citric acidity, buttery mouthfeel.
Caturra
Bright citric acidity, sugar-cane sweetness, lighter body than Bourbon.
SL28
Blackcurrant, grapefruit, tomato-vine acidity, wine-like body — the classic Kenya profile.