Costa Rica: coffee from the country of the Rich Coast
Fruity coffee with lively acidity from the land of forests and volcanoes.
Costa Rica is a relatively small country in Central America, with a population of about 5,000,000, bordering Nicaragua and Panama and bordering both the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean. It has been inhabited by important civilizations since the Pre-Columbian Period, and the explorers who first arrived there called it the "Rich Coast", both because of its fertile soils and because of the gold jewels of its native inhabitants. It passed into the hands of the Spaniards at the time of the discoveries, and gained its independence (and a remarkable stability for a Latin American country since then) in 1821.
Costa Rica is a popular tourist destination because of its stunning landscapes, its vast flora and fauna, and its pristine ecosystems - but it is also known for one of its main export products, coffee. Costa Rican coffee is constantly gaining ground in the tastes of coffee drinkers, a trend that is expected to remain stable in the coming years. Let's get to know him better!
Coffee cultivation began in Costa Rica in the late 18th century, with coffee tree roots being introduced into the country directly from Ethiopia, with no stops. As early as the 19th century, a serious effort was made by the official authorities of the country to standardize and intensify the cultivation, by distributing land for coffee plantations to any homeless person who was interested. Coffee soon surpassed in export value products such as tobacco, cocoa and sugar, for which Costa Rica was famous.
Coffee production continued to expand, until in 1843 a ship loaded with coffee from Costa Rica arrived in the United Kingdom, and the two countries soon entered into trade agreements, which boosted coffee cultivation in the country. Coffee merchants and big growers are becoming the new bourgeoisie of the country: its railway network and its National Theater are financed by this very money.
Coffee is grown in eight different regions across the country, including several high-altitude regions famous for the quality of the beans they produce, such as Tarazzu. The microclimate of the area, the altitude and the volcanoes of Costa Rica create the ideal conditions for growing coffee, something that can be seen from its high quality.
Today, coffee is the third most important export product of the country, employing almost 1/3 of its agricultural potential and participating in the country's GDP with an impressive 20%. Although Costa Rica is a small country, it is consistently among the top 15 coffee producing countries in the world, a fact that undoubtedly shows the importance of coffee for its economy, while the coffee industry is constantly growing.
Does coffee from Costa Rica taste good?
Although it is not large, Costa Rica has coffee-producing areas almost in its entirety, which makes the taste profile of its cafes quite wide. In general, coffees from Costa Rica are among the best in Central America, with their main feature being the fruity, playful acidity. Delicious notes that can be found in a good coffee from Costa Rica are those of citrus fruits, lean fruits, but also brown sugar or caramel, in some cases.
Although coffee beans from Costa Rica are also used in espresso blends, in recent years more companies have chosen to sell them as a single variety, as their audience is fanatical. It is worth noting, of course, that the coffee produced in Costa Rica is exclusively Arabica, since the country does not produce any Robusta.
Three tasty suggestions from Costa Rica
New York Monorigini Costa Rica 250g: Single-origin, 100% washed Arabica from Costa Rica, guaranteed by Italian New York. The body is balanced, the aroma is strong and the taste is dominated by citrus notes with an idea of cocoa and spices. Ascending acidity is characteristic of the Costa Rican terroir.
Caffè Lab Costa Rica Tournon SHB 250g: Single-origin, 100% washed Arabica from Costa Rica, guaranteed by the Italian Caffe Lab, which specializes in single-variety coffees of rare origin. It comes from high altitude plantations and volcanic soil in the Tournon area and is characterized by fruity notes with aromas of apple and berry, while it balances deliciously between acidity and sweetness.
Capsules Nespresso Compatible 101Caffè Costa Rica: Single origin, 100% Arabica coffee from Costa Rica, from plantations in the Tarrazu Mountains, at an altitude ranging from 1200 to 2000 meters. The microclimate of the area and the rich volcanic soils create the ideal conditions for growing a coffee with strong aromas, delicious acidity and persistent taste.
The journey to the countries and the flavors of coffee continues, and it is magical, as is the aroma of an espresso with beans from the tropical plantations of the Rich Coast, of Costa Rica!
