The Land and Its Legacy
Costa Rica’s mountains cradle a story of balance — where volcanic soil, cool air, and ocean winds converge. Coffee arrived in the late 1700s, and within decades it shaped the nation’s economy and culture, earning it the name “the golden bean.”
Unlike many origins, Costa Rica built its reputation on precision. Its small farms and micro-mills turned quality into identity, making it one of the first countries to regulate coffee purity by law — Arabica only, no compromises.
The Coffee Journey
Varieties and Altitude
Coffee grows here between 1,200 and 1,700 meters, mainly in regions like Tarrazú, Central Valley, Tres Ríos, and Brunca. The volcanic soil, enriched by ash and minerals, gives the cherries exceptional density and sweetness.
Varieties such as Caturra, Catuai, and Typica flourish under cloud-filtered sunlight, their slow ripening yielding vibrant, balanced cups. Tarrazú, in particular, has become a symbol of Costa Rican excellence, producing coffee of remarkable clarity.
Processing and Craft
Costa Rica pioneered innovation in processing. While washed coffee remains its backbone, the country also led the wave of honey and natural methods that highlight sweetness and fruit complexity. Farmers often manage every step themselves, from pulping to drying, creating a direct link between grower and flavor.
Small wet mills, known as beneficios, stand beside homes, where families oversee fermentation and drying on patios. This intimate scale ensures traceability and character — coffee not from a system, but from people.
Cup Profile and Character
Costa Rican coffee is admired for its crisp acidity, medium body, and clean sweetness. In the cup, one may find orange zest, red apple, honey, and milk chocolate. Tarrazú coffees shine with lively brightness, while Central Valley lots carry deeper sweetness and balance.
It is coffee that feels composed — structured yet joyful, a reflection of a land that measures success by harmony, not volume.
Reflections — The Spirit Behind the Bean
Costa Rica’s farmers see coffee as a craft of generations. They tend their trees with scientific curiosity and emotional care, uniting tradition and modernity in every harvest. Sustainability is not a slogan here — it is instinct.
To drink Costa Rican coffee is to taste precision guided by heart. Each cup tells of a country that learned to refine without losing warmth, to innovate without forgetting its roots.
