Introduction to Costa Rican Coffee Varieties and Flavors

The flavor of Costa Rican coffee has always been remarkably balanced and steady. Lacking the sharpness of Guatemalan coffee, it drinks quite mild and smooth, with acidity, sweetness, and chocolate bitterness harmoniously integrated in perfect balance—a classic flavor profile of premium coffee. The seven major coffee-producing regions are as follows: Durresiba Valley (northeast of the capital San José), Central Valley (northwest of San José), Western Valley (west of the capital), Three Rivers Region (east of the capital), Brunca (southeast of the capital), Orosi (north of the capital), and Tarrazú (south of the capital). Among these, the Central Valley, Tarrazú, and Three Rivers regions are the most renowned. In principle, coffee grown on slopes facing the Pacific Ocean tends to be of higher quality than that facing the Atlantic Ocean.

In the 2007 Costa Rica Cupping Competition, the champion farm Cerro Bado was located in the Tarrazú region south of San José city, but the Central Valley region also performed impressively, with second through fourth places all coming from Naranjo City in this area. The Three Rivers region seemed to be overlooked.

La Minita Estate: A World-Class Coffee Farm

The La Minita farm in the Tarrazú region has established its world-class reputation through layer upon layer of strict quality control management. It has been popular in European and American markets for more than half a century, making it a globally renowned coffee estate. La Minita means "little gold mine"—before Spanish colonization, indigenous people often dug for gold mines at the current farm location, making it truly a blessed land. La Minita produces approximately 1 million pounds of coffee beans annually. After selection and removal of defects (over 70% are eliminated), only 290,000 pounds of premium products are sold to the specialty market—certainly not an empty reputation. The estate's coffee is characterized by apple and citrus acidity, the richness of milk and truffles, and a silky refined mouthfeel, with an altitude of approximately 1200-1700 meters.

Three Rivers Region: A Historic Coffee Area

Additionally, the Three Rivers region is also a famous producing area, located not far east of the capital, where the Irazú Volcano and rivers create an excellent microclimate zone. However, in recent years, urban areas have gradually extended into suburban areas, and farmlands have been sold to developers, causing a sharp decline in coffee production in the Three Rivers region. Almost all production has been secured by Starbucks, making it difficult for the industry to purchase. The region's renowned farm Aquas Granjas has persisted since 1857, with a long history. The coffee features bright, gentle fruit acidity that isn't sharp, with charming nutty, floral, and toffee sweetness—characteristic of coffee from this region.

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