Introduction to Costa Rica Aurora Estate | How to Brew Costa Rican Coffee | Costa Rican Pour-Over

Aurora Estate

Aurora Estate sits in Piedra Candela, in the Volcán region on the northwestern edge of Chiriquí Province, only two kilometers from Costa Rica.

Aurora Estate covers 31 hectares in total, of which the portion lying between 1,700 and 1,775 meters above sea level is a rainforest protection zone. The coffee-growing area spans about 15 hectares at elevations of 1,485–1,700 meters, with an average cultivation altitude of 1,600 meters. Annual temperatures range from 16–25°C, with 3,500 mm of rainfall, and the coffee trees grow in semi-shaded conditions.

The estate's owner, Roberto Brenes, was formerly chairman of the Panama Stock Exchange, and he bought the estate before retiring. Under his devoted management and with the estate's exceptional geography, it has repeatedly taken top honors at the BOP (Best of Panama) competition. One of Brenes's hobbies is triathlon, which is where the name "Geisha Ironman" comes from.

Flavor Analysis

Rich tropical fruit notes, peach, florals, maple syrup, intense sweetness, and a silky-smooth body.

Brewing Parameters Recommended by FrontStreet Coffee

Pour-over: V60 dripper, Fuji R440 grinder setting 3.5, water temperature around 90°C.

French press: recommended grinder setting 4, water temperature 90°C.

Siphon: recommended grinder setting 4, water temperature 90–91°C.

AeroPress: recommended grinder setting 3.5, water temperature 90°C.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If the tropical-fruit sweetness and silky body of this estate appeal to you, Costa Rica's honey-processed coffees are a natural place to explore. FrontStreet Coffee's Strawberry Candy is a Geisha blend that pairs a Costa Rica honey-processed coffee with a Panama Geisha, giving the cup both delicate florals and sweet fruit — think rose, strawberry gummy, and dried blueberry, with balanced grape and citrus acidity and an almond note in the finish. It works beautifully as pour-over or cold brew, and it also holds up well pulled as espresso. For a cleaner, more classic profile, FrontStreet's Boquete Geisha is an accessible estate-level Geisha grown at around 1,600 meters in the Boquete area, offering the variety's signature jasmine, green tea, honey, citrus and orange notes. Either way, a V60 at roughly 88–90°C, 15 g of coffee at a 1:15 ratio, and a medium-fine grind is a reliable starting point.