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Costa Rican coffees are a perfect balance of flavor, body, aroma, and acidity. The coffee beans are grown in volcanic soil, which gives them a very distinct and deep flavor.
If you are looking for something smooth yet bold, fruity yet earthy, or silky smooth but with a strong flavor, you’ll want to try some of these Costa Rican coffee brands below.
We’ve done the legwork for you and found 5 best of the best brands of Costa Rican coffee that will surely satisfy your tastebuds, from light and fragrant roasts to dark and earthy blends.
Let this be your guide when it comes time for you to buy your next bag!
Let’s dive into the world of Costa Rican Coffee.
Costa Rican coffee – An Overview
Costa Rica is a Central American country that sits off the coast of Panama and Nicaragua. It is a beautiful country with exotic landscapes and a rich history.
It has many different climates due to its location, with areas from low to high altitudes from the rainy northwest to the cool mountainous east.
This has made it one of the largest exporters of quality coffee in Central America, which is why you’ll find so many different brands from this country.
The main types of coffee beans produced in Costa Rica are Arabica and Robusta.
Arabica is very flavorful due to the fact that it contains more sugar in the bean, and has a unique fruity and smooth flavor. It is also known to be high in caffeine.
Robusta, on the other hand, has a low sugar content and a bold earthy, and bitter taste.
Costa Rican coffee beans are also very rich due to the volcanic soil used for growing them, making them highly prized by both continents!
Let’s now talk about the flavor profile of Costa Rican coffee.
Why Is Costa Rican Coffee So Expensive?
A quick look at the price tag of Costa Rican coffee, and you’re probably wondering why it’s so expensive.
You might even be wondering how it’s even possible to get such an expensive bean. Well, there is one reason for this: high-quality!
Costa Rica has perfect conditions for growing coffee, with mountains granting excellent soil drainage capabilities.
The cooler climates grant higher sugar content in the coffee cherry (which will end up in the coffee beans), and rich volcanic soil that provides excellent nutrients for the plants.
What is also fantastic about this country is that out of all Central American countries, it has the least amount of disease attacks on its plants.
This is wonderful news for growers as a disease can easily destroy crops and greatly reduce yields.
This means that people who grow coffee in Costa Rica can expect to be able to get a much higher price than elsewhere in Central America.
But such high prices come with the caveat of lower volume than other countries.
This is because farmers don’t have to use as many chemicals and pesticides as elsewhere, so the quality of their products remains higher.
It also takes a longer time to cultivate, process, and package each pound of coffee, meaning it takes longer and more manual labor than elsewhere on the continent.
Costa Rican Coffee Brands – The More, The Better!
What’s so wonderful about Costa Rica is that it has so many different coffee brands to choose from.
On the one hand, this means there are lots of different flavor profiles to choose from. You can pick something smooth and soft or something bold and strong.
Or maybe you want your coffee to taste like berries or chocolate? That’s fine too!
And on the other hand, it also means that you have lots of choices when it comes to coffee packaging options.
You can get whole beans or ground beans, single-serve cups, or whole bean containers!
There are many ways to enjoy your Costa Rican coffee brand of choice.
Costa Rican Coffee Flavor Profile
Costa Rican coffee has a very rich-tasting profile due to the volcanic soil used for growing it.
It is unlike coffees from other Central American countries, which are made up of more acidic and dark beans.
This has made it one of the most popular in the world, especially when it comes to blending with other high-quality beans for a bolder flavor or using it in espresso drinks.
You will note that its flavor profile is silky smooth with a strong earthy taste that is neither bitter nor burnt at all.
When comparing this coffee to others in the world, you’ll find it to be both smooth and complex. It contains both a fruity and nutty flavor, which is very hard to top.
The taste is not as acidic as other coffees from Central America, and the finish is very rich. It may remind you of a sweet chocolate or a fresh thick berry.
This makes it a perfect choice for those who prefer a bolder flavor in their drinks.
Another distinguishing feature is that this type of coffee’s flavor profile changes depending on the location where it was grown.
5 Best Costa Rican Coffee Brands
1. Fresh Roasted Coffee (Whole Bean)
This medium roast Costa Rican Coffee Bean comes directly from Costa Rican lands. It has an exquisite flavor that is smooth and rich with a deep aroma.
Although the beans are medium-bodied, you will still get a bold flavor.
The beans are dried on the same day they are harvested, which makes their taste distinctly different from other coffees, and slightly stronger than what you’d expect.
If you love bold and strong coffee, this is a great choice for your taste buds!
Fresh Roasted Coffee roasts the freshest coffee beans with the most technologically advanced means that exist nowadays while keeping the process eco-friendly.
With notes of honey and chocolate, these coffee beans brew a medium-bodied cup of coffee that’s slightly dark and slightly sweet.
This is a great choice for lovers of medium roasts or blends that combine long cold water infusions for a second cup. This is an especially great choice if you like your coffee strong and full-bodied.
If you like this brand, I also recommend Fresh Roasted Coffee OneCoffee Brand : Fresh Roasted Coffee (Whole Bean).
Roast: Medium Roast, Mild Body
Caffeine Level: Caffeinated
Tarrazú, Costa Rica
Altitude: 1,200 – 1,800 meters
Varieties: Caturra, Catuai
Process: Washed
Drying: Drum Dried
2. Volcanica Costa Rican Coffee
The beans from Volcanica are 100% Pure Costa Rica Tarrazu Coffee Beans that will make you feel like you are in Costa Rica.
Volcanica Costa Rican coffee beans are grown in the mountains of Tarrazu.
This volcanic soil gives the beans an intense hearty and roasted flavor, and a beautiful dark brown caramel color is the result of the high concentration of natural antioxidants found in this coffee bean.
Volcanica Coffee is harvested at its peak and then immediately roasted in small batches to preserve its rich and intense flavors and aromas.
These medium roast beans pack a great smoky volcanic flavor with sweet undertones, making them great for any kind of coffee drink you want to make.
This coffee is best enjoyed as an espresso, brewed straight from the canister with a French Press or Chemex.
Volcanica’s medium-roasted beans retain enough body to be easily blended with stronger roasts or even cold brews as well as making it a great choice for those who want a roasting level that roasts them but doesn’t burn off all their flavor.
3. Cafe 1820 Gourmet Premium Arabica Costa Rican Coffee
If you love some notes of chocolate and fruity flavor with a nutty aftertaste then this is the coffee to go for.
Cafe 1820 coffee beans are handpicked, sun-dried, and shade-dried before being fully processed. The Arabica beans are medium roast and ground to give them their smooth taste.
The coffee grounds are vacuum-packed to maintain freshness and premium quality.
The flavor profile of these coffee beans is characterized by their dark chocolate, fruitiness, and nutty aftertaste. It has a sweet, medium body with a perfect finish.
These medium-roast coffee beans are the perfect choice for any kind of brewing method whether it be drip, percolating or espresso.
Perfect for any kind of coffee drink you want to make, this medium roast ground coffee can be made into Espresso, Cappuccino, Café au lait, Latte Macchiato, Americano, or Flat White coffee.
4. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Costa Rica Paraiso Ground Coffee
This coffee ground from Green Mountain is loaded with rich cocoa and caramel notes amidst a hint of exotic fruitiness.
The coffee grounds are packed in a multi-layer wrapped filter bag which helps maintain freshness and premium quality.
The coffee is made from 100% Arabica Costa Rica Beans that are grown in volcanic soil, giving them their unique earthy flavor and rich brown color.
This medium roast ground coffee is best enjoyed when brewed with a French press, percolating, drip, or Espresso machine.
It goes well with whole milk or soy milk for a creamy taste and an unbelievable experience.
5. Café Britt – Costa Rican Montecielo Coffee Ground
100% Arabica coffee beans are grown in volcanic soil, giving them their unique earthy flavor and rich brown color.
These Costa Rican Coffee Beans are listed among the best in comparison to others because of their smooth flavor, body, and aroma which makes them perfect for all kinds of coffee drinks – espresso, cappuccino, or lattes.
The Costa Rican Montecielo Beans are ground to eliminate bitterness but keep the full body and aroma of its naturally grown taste.
If you’ve never tasted a coffee ground that gives a chocolate and grapefruit flavor, then this is your chance to try it out.
The coffee beans are medium-bodied and are richly aromatic, full of flavor, and with a chocolate taste that’s evident upon the first sip that lingers throughout the cup.
Why Should You Try Costa Rican Coffee?
If you love coffee, then you should know that Costa Rican coffee is one of the finest in the world, and it’s interesting that this country has consistently produced some of the best coffees in the industry for generations.
The first thing you will notice about these beans is their dark brown color, which makes them stand out among other types.
This looks like a rich and delicious espresso, and it’s never bitter, but also never sickly sweet.
These beans are not roasted for a long period of time, and they retain their fresh flavor right through the coffee bean’s entire shelf life.
As far as the taste goes, you’re likely to enjoy it with cream or flavored milk (especially if you like that chocolate-vanilla combo), but you may also drink them black.
You’ll be surprised how much the taste will change as you drink them over time – so don’t be afraid to try this coffee out!
What Makes Costa Rican Coffee Better?
The fact that they are grown on volcanic soils, gives them a special flavor. These beans are not only rich in taste, but they also have a slow release that will not leave you jittery.
In fact, these beans are perfect for any kind of coffee drink – espresso, cappuccino, or lattes.
As far as the taste goes, the beans retain their full flavor right through the bean’s entire shelf life.
If you enjoy a rich cup of coffee with a hint of bittersweet chocolate and exotic fruitiness, then this is the coffee to go for.
Besides the taste, Costa Rican Coffee is also known to be very high in antioxidants and perfect for bold and adventurous espresso lovers.
Some of the most popular brewers include French press, drip, and good old Espresso.
Although most coffee beans are usually bought whole, grinding your own beans is better because it helps to tap into all their flavor notes.
Furthermore, the grains are easier to distribute in the ground coffee machine so they do not get burnt or over-roasted. You’ll also save yourself some cash in the long run.
History Of Costa Rican Coffee Beans
It’s hard to determine when coffee cultivation really began in Costa Rica, but it is known that it was introduced by the colonial Spaniards in 1779.
Although at first, it was not very common, citizens started planting their own crops, especially because materials were made available for free such as seeds and farming tools.
By the 19th century, Costa Rica was already a major coffee producer. Coffee was cultivated in various parts of the country, while plantations were founded across the Atlantic coast.
In 1813, Don Francisco Mora Fernandez bought the Central Valley, where he planted coffee trees and cocoa bushes after he managed to get permission from president Jose Maria Montezuma.
He soon became one of the largest coffee plantation owners in Costa Rica.
In 1821, he built a café that became famous all over Costa Rica and Central America for its quality service and delicious beverages.
Even today, that café is still famous for its excellent service and traditional food.
In 1923, Costa Rica abolished the prohibition of the coffee trade with the United States, and in 1937 it was recognized as a world leader in coffee production.
The dark brown beans that were once primarily exported to Britain and the United States became most popular around the world, and this is still true today.
It is no wonder that Costa Rican Coffee has won various awards for its taste and flavor.
Final Thoughts on Costa Rican Coffee
Costa Rican coffee is rich in flavor and extremely high in antioxidants, which makes it perfect for people who are high consumers of coffee.
It is also said that Costa Rican Coffee has more caffeine than other types due to its unique antioxidant properties. It contains less than 3% acidity and almost 0% tannins.
Another thing worth exploring is how beneficial coffee beans are for health.
Studies have shown that these beans are rich in anti-inflammatory properties, which explains why almost half of the world’s population consumes them on a regular basis.
Today, coffee has become a very large business venture worldwide, and Costa Rica has played a huge role in this growing industry.
I would highly recommend getting your hands on these coffee beans because they are absolutely amazing!
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