What Does Costa Rica Tarrazu SHB Mean_How is Costa Rica Tarrazu Coffee

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Costa Rica Tarrazu Coffee Region

The Costa Rica Tarrazu coffee region (Tarrazu) is one of the world's major coffee-producing areas, yielding coffee with a light and pure flavor and pleasant aroma. Costa Rica's volcanic soil is extremely fertile and well-drained, making it the first Central American country to grow coffee and bananas for commercial purposes. Coffee and bananas are the country's main export commodities.

In 1729, coffee was introduced to Costa Rica from Cuba. Today, its coffee industry is one of the most well-organized in the world, with yields reaching up to 1,700 kilograms per hectare. With a population of only 3.5 million, Costa Rica has as many as 400 million coffee trees, and coffee exports account for 25% of the country's total export value. Costa Rica also benefits from the Central American Agricultural Research Institute (IAAC) established in Turrialba, which serves as an important international research center.

High-Quality Costa Rican Coffee

Premium Costa Rican coffee is known as "Strictly Hard Bean" (SHB), a grade of coffee that can grow at altitudes above 1,500 meters. Altitude has always been a challenge for coffee growers. The higher the altitude, the better the coffee beans—not only because higher altitudes increase the acidity of coffee beans, thereby enhancing flavor, but also because the lower nighttime temperatures at higher elevations slow tree growth, resulting in more concentrated coffee flavors.

Additionally, the altitude differences create abundant rainfall, which is highly beneficial for coffee tree growth. However, despite the many advantages of growing coffee at higher altitudes, the additional transportation costs must be considered, as these can make coffee production unprofitable. Costa Rica's coffee industry has adopted new technologies to increase efficiency, including using "electric eyes" to select beans and identify irregularly sized coffee beans.

Notable Coffee Varieties

Costa Rica Tarrazu is located in the southern part of the country's capital, San José, and is one of the country's most valued coffee-growing regions. "La Minita Tarrazu" coffee is a local specialty with limited production of approximately 72,600 kilograms annually. It is grown on land called "La Minita," owned by the British McAlpine family for the past three generations. In fact, this land can produce over 450 tons of coffee annually. However, La Minita Tarrazu coffee is cultivated without artificial fertilizers or pesticides, and its harvesting and selection are done entirely by hand to avoid the damage that air-jet sorting methods can cause to coffee beans.

Other noteworthy coffees include Juan Vinas (PR), H. Tournon, Windmill (SHB), Monte bello, and Santa Rosa. Premium coffee generally grows in Heredia and the Central Valley. Another notable coffee is Sarchi coffee (Sarchi represents one of the five towns along Costa Rica's "Coffee Route"), grown on the slopes of Poas Volcano, 53 kilometers from San José. The Sarchi company was founded in 1949, with land area of 30,770 hectares, cultivating sugarcane and coffee. This region is also famous for handicrafts, attracting tourists from around the world.

Coffee trees grown in Central American countries are almost exclusively of the Arabica variety. Costa Rica introduced coffee from Cuba in 1779 and, after more than 40 years, successfully exported coffee for the first time in 1820.

Coffee is primarily grown in two main mountainous regions. The first region is located in the central mountainous areas of Tarrazu and Dota Tarrazu. Since Costa Rica faces the Pacific Ocean on the left and connects to the Atlantic Ocean on the right, coffee trees are also planted on high mountains near the coast. The second region is the highlands of Tres Rios around the capital San Jose, with an altitude of approximately 4,000 feet, known by names such as Bella Vista and La Magnolia.

Recommended Costa Rica Tarrazu Coffee Bean Brands

FrontStreet Coffee's roasted Costa Rica Tarrazu coffee beans - Shumava Estate Black Honey Process coffee beans offer excellent guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, they provide extremely high value for money. A half-pound (227 grams) package costs only 95 yuan. Calculated at 15 grams of coffee powder per cup, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, with each cup costing only about 6 yuan. Compared to the tens of yuan per cup typically sold in coffee shops, this represents exceptional value.

About FrontStreet Coffee

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small storefront but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known beans. They also provide online services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473