Costa Rica Coffee Brands – Recommended Beans and Brewing Methods

Costa Rican coffee, according to some, is the best coffee on the planet. It’s definitely one of the most popular origin regions of coffee we have reviewed so far.

Probably the most fascinating thing about Costa Rican coffee is that the country has a law that prohibits the manufacture of anything other than 100% Arabica coffee beans.

Costa Rican beans are highly regarded by coffee enthusiasts and baristas all over the world and with good reason. Let’s just say Costa Rica has a long history of producing high-quality coffee. But what makes Costa Rican coffee so special? Well first let’s take a look at the varieties they grow there:

The country’s coffee business, as well as recommendations for some of the best beans on the market, coffee is more than a cash crop; it’s a way of life that defines Costa Rica’s past and present. The coffee industry touches nearly every aspect of the local reality. From the economy and tourism to the country’s various social structures. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that the government and farmers place a premium on bean quality.

Costa Rica Coffee Regions – Top Places for Plantations

The volcanic highlands of Central America provide ideal growing conditions for coffee, and various Central American countries produce some truly exceptional coffees, some on par with Costa Rica’s best. Even if the best coffee fromPanama or Guatemala is superior, Costa Rica still takes 3rd place (which is no mean feat). This is most likely due to Costa Rica’s relative development, particularly the development of its coffee sector. Cultivation, picking, processing, and shipment of high-quality coffee necessitate a great deal of attention. Let’s take a look at where the country generally grows its coffee and why it’s so tasty!

Tarrazu – Best Quality Costa Rican Coffee (Allegedly)

Tarrazu is the fifth canton and is one of the most popular provinces of Costa Rica. allegedly it’s one of the best places in the country for coffee cultivation.

As for the coffee beans grown and nurtured here, they are known for their versatility. A lot of it has to do with the place of its cultivation, as Costa Rica has many terrains and Tarrazu region is in the epicenter of it. The volcanic soils combined with high altitude (4,800 ft) make coffee grown here unique and one of a kind.

Tres Ríos

Tres Ros is a small town located east of San José, Costa Rica’s capital. Its beginnings may be traced back to 1820, with the development of the coffee industry from the Central Valley to neighboring provinces, which flourished rapidly from the 1840s.

The Pacific slope and the Irazu Volcano impact the land, resulting in the development of a unique gourmet beverage known as Costa Rica’s Bordeaux.

Tres Ros has distinct rainy and dry seasons. The region produces a coffee bean known as Central Strictly Hard Bean, which is distinguished by its physical hardness and closed fissure.

Poás – Nutrient-rich Volcanic Soil

Poas is around 19 miles from San Jose in the Alajuela province. It is divided into five districts and has a population of roughly 30,000 people, covering an area of about 29 square miles.

One of the world’s greatest natural wonders may be found in the Poas district: An active stratovolcano that reaches 8858 feet into the sky. The national park surrounding the volcano is Costa Rica’s and Central America’s most visited attraction.

Thanks to such an environment of high altitude, humidity and volcanic soil, Poas produces amazingly tasty coffee.

Top 5 Costa Rica Coffee Brands on Amazon

After conducting research on the topic of Costa Rican coffee beans and its cultural and historical aspects we have found many brands that offer the consumer the most authentic experience. We have chosen these brands by their tastes, affordability, brand awareness, and ethical production methods.

How We Rated Them

We pay attention to the following:

• Price

• Company Background

• Taste

• Shelf-life

• Additives

For more detailed information on how exactly we rate the coffee products we suggest in our guides, click here.

Individual Overviews of Our Top Choices

In this section of the guide, we will give you a detailed explanation of the Costa Rican coffee brands and companies we have chosen in the sea of available products.

Café Britt Tarrazú, Tres Ríos & Poás

This three-pack from Amazon will appeal to anyone’s palate and is really simple to order. It also arrives in a day or two. The company itself is great as well; they’re environmentally conscious and have decades of experience in the field.

On Amazon, the pricing is equivalent to ordering from Cafe Britt in Costa Rica. If you want a variable and authentic Costa Rican coffee experience I would highly recommend these beans. I tried it the old-fashioned way, grinding it by hand and brewing it by filtering through a piece of fabric, and it was fantastic!

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Allegro Coffee EL VOLCÁN

Throughout researching the products, I’ve come to the conclusion that chili pepper is what I’m tasting in the Costa Rican bean, which is quite tasty, but in Allegro’s coffee, it’s almost like there are layers of flavor, far more refined.

Overall the texture of the coffee made by these beans is smooth, it’s medium roasted and has natural flavors and sweetness. When utilizing the French Press method for a two-minute soaking, this mild Costa Rica coffee produces a great cup. It has a flavor that is rich, smooth, and creamy. I usually grind beans myself right before brewing, but this ground source is more to my liking. It saves time!

Let’s not skip the price as well. At just under $10 for a 12-ounce bag, it’s one of the most affordable bags of coffee you can get off Amazon. And one of the tastiest too! 9/10!

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Volcanica Costa Rican Arabica

Volcanica Costa Rican Arabica is one of their best-selling coffees, and you may have seen it on Amazon. They have good internet distribution, and I would describe this Atlanta-based company as “forward-thinking”. They’re also quite open about their production methods and the results are as clear as day.

Although the bag says the beans are medium roasted, I’d say they’re more like a medium-dark, as you can really feel the bitterness once you’ve brewed them.

This coffee was grown on the lobby Sabella estate from the Tres Rios region near the Pacific Ocean, where it was grown at about 5,200 feet above sea level. I personally brewed it as an Espresso, an Americano, and a Lungo and I have to say they all came out pretty good. Yeah, the Espresso lacked a bit of crema, but I blame myself for that and not the beans. I was a bit too careful and didn’t grind enough beans, thus the lack of that crema. But other cups came out amazingly well!

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Gevalia Arabica

Gevalia is the brand behind this amazing coffee. The company was founded in 1853 in Sweden and has over a century of experience in the industry. The brand is a mixture of Swedish heritage and an undying passion and devotion for coffee. All of this can definitely be felt in their final product. For as little as $6 I was pretty happy with the 10 ounces of ground beans I got.

As for the taste of the Arabica coffee provided by Gevalia, we can say that the general sweetness which is expected with Arabica is there, however, I think it has some distinctive qualities as well.

The roast of this rich, medium-bodied coffee is on the darker side of medium, allowing delicate fruit and citrus undertones to show through.

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COFFEE LLC Arabica

Now we’re off to Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC, which has never really disappointed me in any way. A kilogram (35 ounces) of this coffee costs $25.95, but the price of it fluctuates on Amazon. The good news is that promotions with Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC are almost a monthly occurrence. During the last massive sale, this same product went for $18.99 on Amazon, so expect the price to drop again in the future. I’d also recommend using the Honey Chrome extension as well as it helps to add even more coupons to further reduce the price.

Overall this Costa Rican blend has great reviews. The shelf life for it is 2 months, which means that it is perfectly reasonable to buy it in bulk. The price of the products is well worth its taste which is invigorating and ecstatic. It has a smooth, sweet flavor with chocolate and sugar undertones. There were also hints of fruits or berries.

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Ways to Brew Costa Rican Coffee – For Yourself & Parties!

Every coffee bean has its optimal coffee-making style which is very much evident with Costa Rican coffee beans. In This section of our guide, we will be giving you much-needed information about the coffee types that are perfectly suitable for Costa Rican beans. There are a few ways that you can make it so we will go through the most common ones.

The Traditional – Tico Style

The Tico style is a traditional way to make coffee according to the customs of Costa Rica. You will need the following to start brewing:

• Around 14-15 grams of coffee (per cup)
• 4-5 ounces of hot (not boiling) water
• A filter sock
• An average-sized mug

Once you’ve assembled all of these components, it’s time to start brewing. Here are the steps:

• Step 1: Finely grind your beans
• Step 2: Place them in the filtering sock
• Step 3: Pour a little bit of water to bloom the beans
• Step 4: Pour the rest of your hot water slowly
• Step 5: Enjoy!

I recommend you prepare your pour-over machine for this method.

Check Out The Best Pour Over Coffee Makers

The Cold Brew – Typical for Latino Coffees

• Combine the coffee grounds and 1.5 cups of water in a jar and stir well.
• Allow it to ‘brew’ overnight, or for about 12 hours, at room temperature.
• Using a coffee filter, fine-mesh sieve, or cheesecloth-lined sieve, strain the mixture twice.
• Pour equal amounts of the coffee mixture and water into a tall glass filled with ice.
• If preferred, add a dash of milk.

List of Top Cold Brew Machines

Best Types of Coffee for Costa Rican Coffee Beans

Unfortunately, Costa Rican coffee is not really applicable to all types of coffee. There are good options and bad ones as well. Here we will outline what’s the best brew to make and what’s the worst one.

Americano – Best Way to Brew Costa Rican Coffee

With the lower acidity of Costa Rican beans and a substantial amount of bitterness, the Americano brings in the perfect balance you need for an amazing cup of java.

I wholeheartedly recommend you try this as your first cup of the day rather than a cup at noon or in the evening.

And preparation is pretty simple as well. Brew around 2 ounces of Espresso, add 4-5 ounces of hot water and you’re good to go!

Check Out Our Americano Masterclass

Doppio

Thanks to the lower acidity of Costa Rican coffee, a double espresso, aka Doppio is the perfect way to brew it.

• Make a powder out of the fresh coffee bean.
• Place espresso bean powder in the espresso machine’s portafilter or group (handle) and tamp it down firmly (not too hard).
• The double-layer group filter/coffee filter should be used.
• Switch on the Espresso Machine.
• You will have your Espresso after 18-25 seconds.

Learn How to Make A Great Doppio

How NOT to Brew Costa Rican Coffee (Subjective)

We have already discussed the coffee types that are great to use with Costa Rican coffee beans. Now we are going to talk about the coffee types that are not as suitable.

Espresso: the acidity, and therefore the strength of Costa Rican coffee is a bit milder than people are used to. Making it as espresso isn’t going to bring the results you would expect from an espresso

Cappuccino: the acidity is pretty low with Costa Rican beans, so adding foam and milk to the brew will make it taste more like milk than coffee

Affogato: adding ice cream and therefore unnecessary sweetness to the coffee is going to dilute its natural chocolatey strong flavor, so it’s not really recommended.

Latte: the acidity is pretty low with Costa Rican beans, so adding foam and milk to the brew will make it taste more like milk than coffee

Frequently Asked Questions on Costa Rican Coffee