Coffee culture

Costa Rica San Roman Coffee Flavor Profile & Characteristics

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional barista exchange. Please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). Costa Rica's coffee cultivation began in 1779 with varieties introduced from Cuba, with the first coffee exports occurring in 1820. The country now has approximately 32,000 coffee farmers, with an average planting area of less than one hectare (10,000㎡) per farmer. Costa Rica's population is 4.1 million (as of 2006), with coffee cultivation covering 82,500 hectares

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Coffee cultivation in Costa Rica began in 1779 when it was introduced from Cuba, with coffee exports only starting in 1820. Currently, there are approximately 32,000 coffee farmers, with each farmer cultivating an average area of less than one hectare (10,000㎡). Costa Rica has a population of 4.1 million (as of 2006), with coffee cultivation covering 82,500 hectares. The annual production reaches 1.7 million bags (each weighing 60kgs), with domestic annual consumption of 380,000 bags. The average per capita annual consumption is 5.5kgs, higher than Japan's consumption of 4kgs, while Taiwan's current average consumption is only slightly above 1kg.

Product Information

Manufacturer: FrontStreet Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee)
Address: Yandun Road, Dongshankou, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
Contact: 020-38364473
Shelf Life: 30 days
Net Weight: 227g
Packaging: Bulk
Taste: Mellow and aromatic
Bean State: Roasted coffee beans
Sugar Content: Sugar-free
Origin: Costa Rica
Coffee Type: Costa Rican coffee
Roast Level: Medium roast

Flavor Profile

Berry aroma, caramel, cream, with subtle spice notes.

Brewing Instructions

Hand-pour Costa Rica San Roman. Use 15g of coffee ground to medium consistency (using Fuji's ghost tooth grinder #4), V60 dripper, water temperature 88-89°C. First pour 30g of water for a 27-second bloom, then pour to 105g and pause. Wait until the water level drops halfway, then continue pouring slowly until reaching 225g. Avoid the tail section. Water-to-coffee ratio 1:15, extraction time 2:00.

Costa Rican Coffee Heritage

Costa Rica was the first country in Central America to cultivate coffee, boasting a long history and a complete system from production to sales. Located in the Central American isthmus with numerous volcanoes, it enjoys natural advantages of sunlight and fertile land. The climate is moderated by Pacific and Atlantic ocean currents and sea breezes, resulting in coffee with unique characteristics from local microclimates. In both quality and quantity, Costa Rican coffee has consistently received global recognition and is rated as one of the world's high-quality coffees. Costa Rica has been cultivating coffee for two hundred years, with early plantings on the slopes of Poas and Barva volcanoes in what is now called the Central Valley region. The seven main coffee regions are distributed from northwest to southeast along the inland central plateau.

Coffee cultivation is considered a relatively prestigious profession in Costa Rica, and coffee farmers hold a highly respected position in society. In 1897, the capital's citizens witnessed the inauguration of the National Theater, donated by coffee wealth magnates. Coffee wealth brought stability to Costa Rica's politics, economy, and democracy - a rare phenomenon among Central American countries. Additionally, Costa Rica has enacted laws permitting only Arabica cultivation, with Robusta being considered "contraband" within its borders - a unique initiative in the world.

Costa Rica's production volume is not large, with an annual output of about 110,000 tons, ranking seventh in Central and South America. The country primarily grows newer coffee varieties such as Catuai, Catimor, and Mundo Novo, while ancient Bourbon and Typica varieties are less common. The country has also developed several variants, with the most famous being Villa Sarchi, a Bourbon variant known for its elegant flavor profile, which has been introduced and cultivated in Brazil and has won awards. Furthermore, Costa Rican research institutions have worked tirelessly to improve the hybrid Catimor, attempting to reduce its Robusta lineage while enhancing its Arabica flavor characteristics. In recent years, these improved varieties have been exported to Asia for trial cultivation.

The country's most famous growing region is Tarrazu, near the capital San Jose. The Tarrazu region has the highest average latitude and excellent climate and soil conditions, making it the most renowned and generally recognized as the finest coffee-producing region in Costa Rica. Tres Rios is a famous sub-region within the Tarrazu area. The most famous Costa Rican single-origin coffee in the specialty coffee world is La Minita estate from the Tarrazu region, with an annual production of only 160,000 pounds.

The San Roman processing plant primarily uses the washed processing method and is renowned for producing coffee with intense, rich flavors and solid mouthfeel. Coffee cherries undergo hand-selection, with farmers removing overripe or unripe cherries before processing. Using a 3-disc Aagaarde pulper to remove skin and pulp, the beans are then machine-sorted by density into three grades. Grade 1 and 2 green beans are fermented separately, while Grade 3 consists of lower-quality beans. The green beans ferment in a cool place for about 24-36 hours, after which they are washed and again sorted by density in the washing channels. The beans are then randomly soaked in clean water overnight. After processing and roasting, the bittersweet chocolate flavors resemble the thick sweetness of cream candy, blending with subtle wine-like acidity. The aroma is captivating, and the fruity sweetness of the chocolate beans is unforgettable.

Costa Rica's volcanic terrain provides fertile volcanic ash, mild and suitable temperatures, and stable, abundant rainfall - all factors contributing to coffee becoming one of the country's main agricultural products. The seven major regions are: Tarrazu, Tres Rios, Orosi, Central Valley, West Valley, Turrialba, and Brunca.

Costa Rica San Roman Royal Coffee

Country: Costa Rica
Grade: SHB
Altitude: 1700m
Region: Tarrazu region
Roast Level: Medium-dark roast
Processing Method: Washed processing
Varieties: Catuai, Catimor
Processing Plant: San Roman processing plant
Flavor: Berry aroma, caramel, cream, with subtle spice notes

The best Costa Rican coffees apparently come from small processing plants scattered throughout the main coffee regions, including Tarrazu and West Valley. This so-called coffee revolution originated 15 years ago, dramatically changing how roasting experts and importers perceive Costa Rican coffee. Centered around processing plants that collect coffee beans from surrounding small farms for processing, these farms are mostly small communities or family-owned operations growing coffee on their own small farms or land. All this coffee is processed and dried by a single small processing plant. The quality and flavor of Royal Coffee are exceptionally unique, largely thanks to the cooperation between coffee producers and our company.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473

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