Barista Magazine was lucky enough to be invited to join Sweden, the winning team from the 2007 Nordic Barista Cup, and a few other travelers from the NBC on their journey to Nicaragua. On the third day, we witnessed a highlight of the trip when we were invited to the opening celebration of a new communications and computer center a rural elementary school. The funds for the equipment were raised at the NBC event in Gotheburg, Sweden, as the competiting national teams sold coffee, pasteries and other goods to the public.

We also visited several farms and co-ops in the area where different organic methods of cultivation were presented. Though the weather was wet and overcast, the colors of the countryside and the friendliness of the people were as vibrant as could be.