Named with Jinotega as the historic home of Nicaragua's best coffee. Mountainous, averaging above 700 m.
Wikipedia says Matagalpa has produced the best bean quality and calls it one of Nicaragua's principal coffee-producing regions. Its terrain is mountainous with an average elevation above 700 m. Other activities include rice, maize, tobacco, cattle, and gold and silver mining. The department has thirteen municipalities.
Field notes
- i
Matagalpa's average elevation is above 700 m.
- ii
Besides coffee, the department grows rice, maize and tobacco.
- iii
A Matagalpa farm, Solidaridad, took second place overall in the 2025 Nicaragua Cup of Excellence with a washed Maracaturra scoring 90.50, and the department placed 3 of the 30 lots.
- iv
Matagalpa is home to Nicaragua's National Coffee Museum, according to a roaster guide.
Elsewhere in Nicaragua
Sources · 4 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-11-10. Some details here are less settled than others.
- Matagalpa Department · Wikipedia
- Coffee production in Nicaragua · Wikipedia
- Cup of Excellence Nicaragua 2025 results · Alliance for Coffee Excellence
- CBC Guide: Nicaraguan Coffee · Coffee Bean Corral