If you love coffee, then you must try Costa Rican coffee. Costa Rica is known for producing some of the most high quality coffee in the world. Costa Rican coffee has been used in world competitions and is a favorite among the best baristas.
Read all about Costa Rican coffee in this post because if you are a coffee lover, then you must go on a Costa Rican coffee tour during your trip to learn about the “golden beans” of Costa Rica.
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Costa Rican Coffee History
In 1720, the first coffee beans where brought to Martinica and then to Costa Rica at the end of the XVIII century.
Due to the ideal climate in the mountains, coffee became one of their largest exports and an important part of the Costa Rican economy.
Costa Rica was the first country in the Central American area to develop the coffee industry. Since then, the government has been motivating farmers to grow coffee and many of the old families in the Central Valley earned a lot of money through coffee production.
Although Costa Rica produces around 1% of the world’s coffee production, the coffee quality is exceptionally high.
Even big companies like Starbucks have their own coffee plantation in Costa Rica since it grows so well here.
Costa Rica’s coffee has won plenty of international contest and certifications. In Japan, the winner of the world coffee competition used Costa Rican coffee to make his winning cup, saying that he only uses that coffee because it is the best in the world.
Costa Rican Coffee Facts
Coffee was such an important product for Costa Rica that laws were passed pertaining to it’s cultivation.
Back in 1989, it was prohibited by law to cultivate the Robusta coffee due the poor quality. After this, the coffee farmers decided to stop producing another kind of coffee called Catimores.
All these efforts were made in order to produce only Arabica Coffee, which is the highest quality coffee.
More than 80% of Costa Rica’s coffee plantations are located between 800 meters and 1600 meters altitude (2624 – 5249 feet), planted with fertile volcanic grounds and temperatures from 17 to 28° C (62-82° F).
This is the perfect environment to produce coffee. Coffee plants do not like extremely hot weather and thrive in a higher altitude.
This is why you will not find coffee plantations in coastal areas as it’s too hot and flat. Instead, all the best coffee plantations are up in the fresh , cool mountains.
The best places to grow and produce coffee in Costa Rica is the Central Valley, namely the mountainous areas of San Jose, Cartago, Alajuela, Grecia, Heredia.
Coffee also grows well in Monteverde. Lately, the winning coffee has been grown in Monteverde and Zona de los Santos (San Jose).
Costa Rica Coffee Tours
If you want to learn about Costa Rican coffee, then you must take a coffee tour at a beneficio, or a coffee plantation.
If you go to the plantation, you will learn about the entire process of turning the coffee cherry to that dark, soothing liquid you have with your breakfast.
On a Costa Rica coffee tour, you will see what the coffee plant looks like, the coffee cherries, how they pick and peel them to get the bean, how they separate the quality of beans and how that cherry turns into what we know as coffee we buy in the supermarket.
Something interesting to see is the harvest process as Costa Rica still picks all their coffee by hand.
The washing, separation and drying processes are done various ways, some small plantation still do everything with small machines and hand, some bigger plantations is all by machines but the harvesting, regardless of the plantation size, is done al by hand.
And of course – you get to try delicious coffee and sample different coffee products!
The Best Costa Rica Coffee Tour
The best places for coffee tours in Costa Rica are San Jose, Heredia, Alajuela, Naranjo, Cartago and Monteverde.
Many of the coffee plantations have coffee tours set up and these places are also the best places to grow coffee in Costa Rica due to the elevation. They grow what they call first grade coffee.
As for tours, the best Costa Rica coffee tours we have done are the Doka Estate Coffee Tour in Alajuela, Don Juan, San Luis and El Trapiche in Monteverde, Diria Coffee tour in Hojancha, Golden Bean in Turrialba, Espiritu Santo in Naranjo, Coopedota in San Dota and Finca Rosa Blanca in Heredia.
Another fun one is Cafe Britt in Heredia, great for families with kids or the casual drinker.
We loved all of them and even though they were all about coffee, each one was unique and different. It was fascinating to see all the different ways they harvest and process coffee on their own, since some plantations are big and some are small, family run plantations.
Another coffee tour we really like is the La Fortuna coffee tour. Although La Fortuna doesn’t grow first quality coffee, you can still learn about it on a local family farm.
You can book this coffee tour and get a small discount on it with our La Fortuna tours discount promo!
Tip: The best time to take a Costa Rica coffee tour is around December – February as this is their production and harvest season. You will be able to see the whole process in action! These months due vary depending on the plantation.
Starbucks also offers coffee tours on their own plantation called Hacienda Alsacia.
Guanacaste Coast
If you are staying on the Guanacaste coast, coffee tours are not readily available. Guanacaste is not a good place to grow coffee at all since it’s too hot and is at sea level.
There are a few places: Diria Coffee Tour, Tio Leo and Sun Burst. They offer coffee presentations to show the coffee roasting process, the coffee plant and harvest. We love the Sun Burst Roasters coffee, we always stop by there when we drive to Liberia as they have a coffee station for just ~$1 a cup to go.
Buena Vista Lodge up near Rincon de la Vieja has their own small coffee station.
One reason why we we recommend taking a Costa Rica coffee tour on a big plantation is that these businesses export the majority of their coffee because it’s such good quality.
Although there are more options at the Costa Rican supermarkets nowadays, the top quality coffee can only be purchased at their plantation.
If you plan to bring Costa Rican coffee back as a souvenir, here are our favorite brands.
Costa Rica Coffee Brands and Souvenirs
Coffee is one of the best souvenirs in Costa Rica since it’s widely available and not too expensive. 1820 and Britt are the two most popular brands of Costa Rican coffee to buy as souvenirs. Britt focuses more on gourmet coffee, 1820 is more like local coffee.
1820 is much cheaper at around 3000 CRC (~$6) USD for 500 grams and Britt coffee costs 6000-8000 CRC ($12-14) USD for a 380 gram bag.
Some other Costa Rican coffee brands you can find in the supermarket are Cafe Rey and Dorado. Those you will find in every grocery store.
Our personal favorite coffees are Peaberry by Doka, French Roast by Doka, Terrazu by Cafe Rey, San Luis and 1820.
This is why if you’re looking for a special type of coffee as gifts, we recommend taking a Costa Rica coffee tour so you can purchase coffee directly from the producers.
You will be able to buy the highest quality and different kinds of coffee that are only sold there.
If you aren’t able to visit a plantation or take a coffee tour, it’s OK. Some local plantations are starting to sell export quality coffee in the local supermarkets as they want it to be more accessible to the local people.
Some specialty souvenir stores and higher end super markets now carry export quality coffee, you will need to look on the label for “calidad de exportacion” which means export quality coffee.
Costa Rican Chorreadors, the Traditional Coffee Maker
Another interesting thing about coffee is how the locals make it. Traditionally, Costa Ricans use a chorreador to make coffee which is their coffee maker.
A chorreador is essentially a wooden stand and they use a cloth “sock” as a filter.
Although most people nowadays use a normal coffee maker due to time, this is how they used to make it back in the day.
Due to the cloth filter, the chorreador gives a much richer flavor. The “sock” they use as a filter retains more flavor and doesn’t taste plastic-y.
For souvenirs, a chorreador makes a great gift. You can buy a hand painted chorreador for about 10,000-20,000 ($20-40) USD. They make fantastic Costa Rican souvenirs.
If you don’t have time to go shopping, the Britt souvenir store in the airports sell them too.
Read more about Costa Rican food and drink below!
Traditional dishes of Costa Rica
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica. Get 10% off your Airalo eSIM package with our promo code “mytanfeet”
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Tracy Riddell says
The Diria coffee tour in Hojancha Guanacaste is very good.
Jeana Huynh says
Which supermarket would you recommend getting the coffee that you suggest at the best price? Super Cristian, maxi Pali, Walmart?
Sammi says
Actually Walmart is not bad and they also had one that I really liked that I haven’t seen in other markets, I think it was from CoopeDota, like a shiny red bag. Walmart also has more selection than Maxi Pali and Super Christian.
Hope says
We stayed in the dominical area of Costa Rica and found the best coffee tour we’ve ever been on… It’s the café Don Emilio tour. Family owned, you go through the whole process and then you get to try coffee and banana bread and for $10 extra they will make you lunch. Strongly recommend. It takes effort to get there but totally worth it.
Daniel says
Are there any coffee tours closer to the south pacific side (from Dominican for example). I found a little info about Santa Maria de Dota Coffee Plantation, but can’t find specific details
Sammi says
There is Coopedota that is very good
Marjon says
Hi,
Would you recommend a coffee tour or the coffee tour along with chocolate and sugar tour? A lot of places offer three in one.
We will be staying at La Fortuna and were wondering where we should take the coffee tour that’s not too far. We have a car.
Sammi says
Hi Marjon, you can do a full tour with coffee, sugar cane and chocolate at Arenal farm tour we did. It’s right in La Fortuna, just about a 15 minute drive!
Minhee says
Hi there! I was wondering if there was any type of package deal for the coffee tour and La Paz waterfalls without roundtrip tranportation? We will have our own rental car and would be moving onto Arenal afterwards. But I was very interested and doing the coffee tour and the waterfall with some type of discount.
Sammi says
Hi Minhee, since you have a rental car and plan to drive to Arenal after, you should do the coffee tour and La Paz waterfall gardens on your own. The tour company departs and goes back to San Jose and it is for those who want a guided tour with transportation which you don’t need. You can drive to the coffee estate on your own and do a tour with their guides there and then you don’t need a guide to La Paz.
Kelly says
I have to agree that coffee in Costa Rica has been by far my favorite of all of the countries we have traveled to. Absolutely LOVE 1820!!! Looking forward to trying a couple others you mentioned. Thank you!
Todd says
Just curious about “Down to Earth” Coffee company. While I was in CR in 2018, this brand seemed to have a very rich and mellow flavor and was my local favorite. It seems to have extremely high reviews. Its grown in the Dota Tarrazu valley. I can only get it by ordering directly from them.
Diane says
I love that coffee my daughter got me hooked on it it is really good is it really healthy for you
Ron says
Hi Samantha & Yeison,
Love your blog.
My wife and I visited Costs Rica for the first time in December. We were in Guanacasta and went to Tio Leo for a “coffee tour”.
It was an awesome experience.
The coffee was excellent. I don’t want to drink any other coffee.
Costa Rican coffee is the best
We will visit Costa Rica again….soon I hope.
Ron
PS:. Your advice was so helpful in our visit, especially the Spanish phrase guide.
richard maloney says
My son goes to Costa ever three weeks and he brings me back the dark roast Britt coffee.I’m a coffee drinker and do love the taste of the Britt coffee.You say this brand is the more expensive brand there. Is there a brand that is the same taste area and is a cheaper brand.
Thanks
You may contact at my email address if you would like
Again Thanks
Sammi says
Hi Richard, we love the Cafe Rey Tarrazu that you can find in the supermarket. Our favorites are from Doka and Monteverde San Luis but you can only buy them at the plantation. Cafe Montana is a good one too.
Lindy says
Hi there,
Thanx for your great article!
I am now in Monteverde, not gonna do a coffee tour but want bring some home for my coffee loving dad. He drinks really strong espresso’s.
What is the best bean/brand I can buy here?
Thanx,
Lindy
Sammi says
We love the San Luis coffee and Cafe de Monteverde! There was a cafe in downtown Santa Elena that sold Cafe de Monteverde, not sure if it’s still there though. I think you can get San Luis in the souvenir stores.
Ray says
Hi,
What coffee would you recommend for a person that loves moccacinos? I like the nutty, chocolatey flavour. I don’t mind medium to dark roast. Doesn’t need to be expensive, just taste good.
Sammi says
Hi Ray, the Doka Dark roast is my favorite and I prefer a dark chocolate flavor. Most of what you find in the supermarket is medium to dark roast, the Tarrazu one is pretty good too.
Ray says
Thanks!
Another question:
Those coffee sock filters…do you just wash and reuse them? How long do they last? Are they noticably better than a coffee press?
Thanks!
Sammi says
You wash and reuse it, and we usually change ours after a couple months of use.
Ray Penner says
Is there a place you can buy this socks? I notice that in gift stores they sell the stand and a sock, but where do you get replacement socks?
Sammi says
They sell socks at the supermarkets here in the same section as the coffee. But if you buy the chorreador that is really small, those ones are hard to find since they usually just sell the normal size socks.
Steph says
What would be your recommendation for a coffee tour that is closer to Guanacaste? I will be traveling to Coco Beach in 3 weeks and would love a coffee tour
Sammi says
If you want the full on coffee tour, like going to a plantation, learning about the plants, seeing how they pick the coffee, seeing the coffee mill and the entire process, you will need to go to Monteverde or San Jose. If you are ok with seeing and learning about the roasting process, there is a small coffee tour at the Do-It center or at Tio Leo near the Liberia airport.
Caroline Lawrence says
We are from Canada and love our coffee, but I need my coffee with cream!! I have heard when we travelt o Costa Rica there will be no cream, just milk. 😐 is this true? . . .or is this more in rural areas and when we are in 4 star hotels there will be cream?
Sammi says
At restaurants, they will have milk, that is the most common. Even at 4 star hotels, I am not sure if they will carry cream but you will need to ask because by default they’ll have milk. You can buy coffee cream at the nicer supermarkets but it is more expensive.
Cindy says
Hi Guys!
Thanks for your article on coffee. I am not really a coffee drinker unless I turn it into a chilled coffee on the rocks with a couple of shots of almond syrup, some chocolate syrup added, topped with whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkled on top of that! Obviously, it’s too rich to drink very often but it makes an excellent dessert drink. Pura Vida!
Cindy
Sammi says
Coffee isn’t for everyone and it’s definitely an acquired taste! Haha that’s more like a dessert than coffee 😉
Reisfreaks says
At the end of our Costa Rican honeymoon we bought a couple of bags with Britt Expresso beans and took them home. We love this coffee!! There is only 1 bag left :S
2 strong cup a coffees in the video 😀
Sammi says
Glad you like the coffee! You can order more on the Britt website but I highly recommend trying different brands – Britt is good but it’s the more commercial and expensive one. We love the Doka brand and the Cafe Rey Tarrazu. 1820 is excellent too and a lot cheaper!
Gina L. says
Hi Yeison (& Samantha)!
Yeison – you may or may not remember me, but we met in 2010 during a VIDA trip I was on (we are still friends on facebook and my last name has changed since then). I love the blog you two have built! My husband and I are in CR for the week (until Saturday) and I have found myself on your blog 2-3 times looking at info to help us on our trip; it’s much different traveling the country in a rental car for vacation vs through VIDA for a trip. 🙂
It looks like you are having a blast; I hope all is well! We will be near La Fortuna until Wednesday and then ~45 minutes to an hour east of there until Saturday. We are hoping to make a trip to Poas as well later this week. If you have any recommendations or happen to be in the area and want to meet for some afternoon coffee or a drink, let me know (probably via email or facebook)!
Pura vida!
yeison says
Hello Gina I hope you and your husband are doing great! I am sorry for the late reply but at this moment we are in the south of Costa Rica and the internet access is limited, we will be back in a few days, I am afraid that we wont be able to see you guys this time but please let me know if you guys need some advice or help on anything. Pura vida 🙂
Lady says
We are in Costa Rica now visiting ;). It’s beautiful here. Thanks for your post! I will buy coffee to bring home.
Sammi says
Yay! Glad you guys love it. Yes, coffee is the best to bring back!
Jeffrey Fong says
We bought some coffee at the airport waiting area in Puerto Jimenez. It was an organic local brand from nearby. Are there other places that sell such coffee?
Sammi says
Hi Jeffrey! You can find organic coffee in nearly at every grocery store. You probably bought Brit since thats the one at the airport. You can find Brit at every grocery store
Patti says
I’m not a coffee drinker, but I think it would be interesting to visit a coffee plantation and see the process of going from plant to brewing. I’m guessing decaf is not an option! ;o)
Sammi says
It’s so interesting to see the plant because you would never think coffee would come out of it! I’ve only ever seen a couple decafs at the market 😛
Magdalena says
Great post, thank you guys!!! Can you tell me where is Beneficio? I would love to go there!
Sammi says
Thanks! There are multiple ones in the country and the most popular one is in Heredia.
Lindsey Monge says
We had this traditional style pour-over coffee in Brasilito when we visited the cafe del mangalar. I wondered if you know how fine should you grind the coffee for this filter? The same as a coffee maker or more fine like powder?
yeison says
Hola Lindsey
My grandmother always says that you need to use 2 teaspoon for each cup. Also an old costarican lady that I know told me that you need to poor the coffee twice in order to a better flavor.
Jon Patrick says
Hey guys!
Found you through your interview over at A Couple Travelers.
This is awesome! Love your Love Story, and an amazing amount of content here!
Most importantly, I LOVE Coffee, so I appreciate this. Gotta go find some now!
Jon
yeison says
Hi Jon !!!
We love coffee too, actually Samantha is making some nice 100% Costa Rica gourmet arabica coffee for breakfast, thank you so much for your kind words … Hope to keep in contact and good luck with your 6 figures project.