Table of contents
Dominican Republic
$ 0.27 - $1.50 per ounce
| Varieties | Arabica, Robusta |
| How to Serve | Usually served as black coffee in a small cup with sugar to taste |
| Flavor | Extremely rich flavor with significant acidity. Earthy taste with a nutty and chocolatey aftertaste. |
| Recommended Machine | Espresso, Moka Pot, French Press, Stovetop |
| Good As | Espresso, Americano, Doppio, Macchiato, Cappuccino |
| Price Range | $0.27 – $1.50 per ounce |
| Caffeine Level | 1.7% on average |
Located on a picturesque island, the Dominican Republic is one of the most interesting places. It was here that pirates of the Caribbean, connoisseurs of rum and treasures, once rampaged. Now they prefer to drink another drink here – Dominican coffee.
Capricious Arabica took root here with great difficulty. The first experiments with the seedlings brought from the island of Martinique could not be called successful due to the low yield. But over 500 years of patience and hard work, the locals have achieved amazing results. Coffee is now one of the most lucrative export commodities with varieties such as Arabica and Robusta.
Unlike many other manufacturers, the companies of the republic rely on mono-grades, and not blends. Coffee from the Dominican Republic is a rich selection of flavors in different price categories: from elite to quite affordable for everyone. Although connoisseurs of the local drink note that even an inexpensive product is of high quality here.
Of course when we talk about coffee and the Dominican Republic we cannot ignore the regions which are famous for growing the beans. These regions are Barahona, Jarabacoa, Juncalito, Azua, Bani Cibao and Ocoa. But, I will focus only on the 3 top.
Jarabacoa is definitely the best region for Dominican coffee beans. Coffee berries are harvested on mountain plantations, which is quite an occupational hazard due to the steep clay slopes with altitudes reaching 1700 feet.
Only Arabica is grown here – a cultivated variety of coffee trees. Saplings grown in nurseries quickly take root on the fertile lands of local mountain plantations. After three years, the trees begin to bear fruit. Coffee berries do not ripen at the same time, and only those that have already turned red need to be picked. Therefore, collectors walk the same slope several times a month.
It is believed that coffee fruits ripening in the mountains at an altitude of 2000 to 5000 feet have special properties. Alpine coffee is considered better than plain coffee, and this is all because in the mountains coffee trees develop more slowly, due to which their beans are obtained with a more refined taste.
We should also mention the Ramirez Brothers Coffee Factory, a family business that has been operating in Jarabacoa since 1943. Today it is run by the second generation of owners who honor and enhance the tradition of high-quality high-altitude coffee making.
The Dominican coffee production area is mainly centered in Cibao, a region in the middle of the Central Sierra at an altitude of between 2000 and 5000 feet, but also in the Caribbean area and in the Barahona area, in the southwest of the country , with an annual production of around 30,000 tons.
The higher elevation is necessary for coffee because it gives a completely different texture and taste that can be felt immediately after you take a sip. The Cibao region is famous particularly for this very reason.
Another interesting fact is that according to statistics from the Dominican Coffee Council, there are approximately 18,276 coffee shops of various sizes throughout the country, of which the most internationally recognized Dominican coffee production (mainly for export) is concentrated in the Cibao area.
The province of Barahona is located in the southwestern region of the island. The coffee is grown in the Baoruco Mountains at an altitude of 1300 to 4300 feet above sea level. Residents of the province of Barahona are proud of their coffee. When meeting guests, they present them with the “elixir of life” – as they call their brews. The coffee has a thick taste with hints of spices and dark chocolate.
Yes, nothing can be more pleasant than starting your morning with a simple cup of coffee that has a nice taste and aroma. Buying decent Dominican coffee could be difficult, but we have made a list specifically for you that features Amazon products.
We pay attention to the following:
For more detailed information on how exactly we rate the coffee products we suggest in our guides, click here.
Here are the 5 products that we decided to choose for the overview. These Dominican brands and their respective products have already proven why they stand out among other brands. So without further ado let’s explore these products in more detail with their unique features.
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Price: $8.89 (subject to change) |
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Size: 10 oz |
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Type: Arabica |
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Roast: Dark |
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Producer: Santo Domingo |
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Beans: Ground |
Not gonna lie, the first thing that grabbed my attention when purchasing this product was the expiration date which is roughly 2 years. It is no coincidence that the variety is named after the capital of the Dominican Republic, although coffee is not produced there, but is grown in the high mountain region. With this name, the manufacturers wanted to emphasize its importance in the coffee industry.
It comes in already pre-ground meaning you don’t have to get a Burr Grinder separately for it. The price is also spot-on for the amount you get, and the taste itself is pretty good too. It’s definitely blow-your-socks-off good, but it’s definitely an amazing product for the price the manufacturer is asking.
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Price: $10.50 (subject to change) |
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Size: 16 oz |
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Type: Arabica |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: Santo Domingo |
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Beans: Whole |
This product is pretty much the same as the previous one. The only difference is that this package has whole beans instead of pre-ground ones. If you want a real Dominican Republic coffee experience, then I suggest you go with this one instead. Grinding these beans on your own will produce a much better-tasting coffee. Why? Because the aroma kind of dissipates when the beans come in pre-ground. Grinding them on your own helps to retain those vibrant flavors and translate them into your brews.
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Price: $18.00 (subject to change) |
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Size: 14 oz |
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Type: Arabica |
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Roast: Medium-Dark |
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Producer: Monte Real |
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Beans: Ground |
I always get excited when a coffee package has “gourmet” on it. It always creates anticipation of quality for me. I wasn’t disappointed this time either.
The coffee has a distinct chocolate flavor, almost like a small chunk of dark chocolate was melted into my cup as I was brewing it with my Moka Pot. In general, the coffee is good, strong, without any acidity due to the medium-dark roast, but still enables the underlying flavors to shine through.
Luckily, the chocolate flavor is all-natural with this product. I searched as much as I could to see if there were any additives, but luckily, there are none. It’s as if these beans were growing inside a cocoa fruit.
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Price: $21.99 (subject to change) |
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Size: 16 oz |
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Type: Arabica |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: Volcanica |
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Beans: Ground |
At ths point, Volcanica has to be in my top 5 list of best coffee manufacturers in the world. They have a very large range of coffee varieties they import, roast and sell. In this case, I was happy to see that they had reached the Dominican Republic as well. The company specifically chose the Jarabacoa region for the reasons we have discussed above.
The taste and aroma of this coffee are exactly what I was expecting from Volcanica, but it would’ve been great if the beans came in as whole, rather than pre-ground. This would enhance the flavors even more.
But regardless, it’s an amazing cup of coffee at an affordable price.
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Price: $15.90 (subject to change) |
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Size: 16 oz |
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Type: Arabica |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: Campeche Cafe Artesanal |
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Beans: Ground |
Delicious, always fresh, and exciting – no more words needed to describe Campeche Café Artesanal Jarabacoa. This is one of my favorite coffees that I always have with me whether I am with my family or friends. The acidity and aroma of Campeche are well balanced. Its super strong quality will not leave anyone disappointed.
As we are talking about Dominican coffee and its characteristics, it is necessary to point out that brewing methods are diverse and you might discover numerous ways to brew a cup with these beans. There are a few ways that you can make it so we will go through the most common ones.
The standard method is perhaps the most popular one when it comes to brewing Dominican coffee. I would suggest using a Moka Pot for it. Prepare fresh coffee grounds for one serving of the drink (1-2 ounces). I suggest you grind the beans on your own as it produces the best aroma and flavor.
Also, make sure to use medium roasted Dominican coffee beans as they’re not too bitter, nor too acidic. Simply brew the beans as you would normally and enjoy! Nothing too complicated with this one. But, if you still want a step-by-step guide, check the link below.
Traditionally, Dominican coffee is made by filtering it through some kind of cloth. Usually, it was a cotton sock which then took the form of a Colador de Cafe. If you don’t have access to such a cloth, using a Drip machine works fine as well as it filters through a slightly similar style fabric. Usually, such coffee is brewed as an Americano.
But, if you don’t want to spend too much on a Drip machine, then a Pourover should do the trick as well. Most of those products come with their own filters, so you won’t have to worry about buying your own.
The best coffee is prepared from fresh beans that are ground just before brewing. Use plenty of coffee (a minimum of 3 ounces of coffee for 64 ounces of water) and just filter it through the cloth or paper filter. Make sure the water isn’t boiling though, it should be at an almost-boiling temperature.
Since Dominican coffee beans have extra acidity, many people like to reduce that acidity with some milk or foam by brewing it as a Cappuccino or a Latte, or even as a Machiatto. Even though the acidity goes down, that strong flavor of coffee remains, so it doesn’t taste like you’re drinking warm, sweet milk. You’re drinking warm and sweet coffee with some milk.
Dominican coffee is amazing for people who like to drink coffee for the morning punch of energy. It’s great as an Espresso and as a Doppio, as well as a Ristretto. I personally suggest you use an Espresso machine for this.
