Costa Rica Coffee
Costa
Rican coffee has been recognized as among the world's finest for over 150
years. It is not, however, native to Costa Rica. The aromatic product was
introduced to the country when arabica seeds were brought over
by the Spanish from Africa and the Middle East in 1808. Land was free and
the seeds provided for anyone who would cultivate the new crop. The temperate
climate and fruitful volcanic soil of the Central Valley proved to be the
perfect environment for coffee's infant stages in Costa Rica, and it swiftly
became the country's main export.
About 30 years after its introduction, the emergence of coffee barons brought for the first time a new class of prosperity.
An interruption in the powerful reign of coffee occurred when bananas overtook the export market in 1878. An American company, "United Fruit", arrived on the scene and took advantage of the abundance of bananas in Costa Rica. The massive banana export surge resulted in severe worker exploitation and environmental devastation.
The
best coffee in Costa Rica is said to hail from the Central Valley, though
equally great coffee can be found in Cartago. When the plants are in bloom,
one can look out over the fields and observe a massive blanket of glorious
fluffy white, often referred to as "snow". Harvesting takes place
from December to February. The reddest berries are hand-picked and taken to
a receiver who pays the coffee pickers. From there, the berries are taken
to a mill, where they are washed, sun-dried, filtered and separated. The product
is then roasted and distributed.
Below are listings of coffee-related events and tours:
 |
Coffee Culture Tour |
|---|---|
|
Location: National Theater in San José |
|
 |
 |
Coffee Tour de Café Britt |
|---|---|
|
Location: Heredia |
|
|
 |
Java Lava Volcano & Coffee Tour |
|---|---|
|
Location: Volcán Poás National Park |
|
|
 |
Doka Estate |
|---|---|
|
Location: Alajuela |
|
|
 |
Doka Estate: Green Trail Tours |
|---|---|
|
Location: Costa Rica |
|
 |
Britt Coffee Tour |
|---|---|
|
Location: West of Heredia |
|
|
