Coffee in Costa Rica: A Story in Every Cup

In Costa Rica, coffee is more than a drink – it’s history, culture, and a daily ritual.

Coffee is a reason to pause. To talk. To slow down. To open your door to a neighbor or welcome a traveler as a friend. Whether sipped on a Monteverde morning when the mist hangs low, or served during afternoon hours alongside a flaky pastry, el cafecito holds a place in the rhythm and heart of daily life in Costa Rica

And when you learn about the history of our “golden bean” and follow its journey from seed to cup, we think that Monteverde coffee develops an even deeper flavor profile.

The Green Awakening: What Changes in the Rainy Season

Coffee first arrived in Costa Rica in the late 1700s, but it wasn’t until the mid-1800s that it transformed the country.

As Costa Rica stepped into its early days as a new nation, declaring independence from Spain in 1821 and breaking from the dissolving Federal Republic of Central America in 1838 – families began to plant coffee along backyard slopes and hillside fincas (farms). The subsequent exports funded roads, railways, and the ornate National Theater – hence, the “golden” bean of wealth. By the early 20th century, coffee had officially evolved into both a cornerstone of Costa Rica’s identity and a daily ritual.

Today, a morning cup and the cafecito de la tarde (afternoon coffee) are still sacred – one of those rare and special moments reserved solely for the simple pleasure of sharing it with family and friends. It’s the time of day when parents look forward to a cozy moment with their grown children. It’s an invitation to sit with a neighbor, a friend, or even a stranger over coffee and conversation.

This is your morning pick-me-up and then a mid-afternoon pause – the latter, more about connection than caffeine. Refusing it in someone’s home might be taken as cold, not because you’ve turned down a drink, but because you’ve turned down the moment and the invitation to connect. 

The Five Main Coffee Regions of Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s prime coffee-growing regions span shaded highland valleys and mineral-rich volcanic slopes, each with its own unique soil, altitude, and microclimate. All share a commitment to quality: Costa Rica banned the cultivation of less flavorful Robusta beans in 1989, choosing instead to focus on 100% Arabica.

Here’s a quick look at the five major regions:

• Tarrazú and Los Santos: High-altitude middle Costa Rica, known for bright acidity and citrusy complexity.
• Central Valley: Mid- to high-altitude, balanced and smooth; the classic Costa Rican flavor profile.
• Tres Ríos: A limited high-altitude region east of the capital, producing mild, elegant cups.
• West Valley: Mid- to high-altitude, home to award-winning beans with floral notes.
• Brunca: A mid- to high-altitude region in southern Costa Rica, with an emerging reputation for softer, rounded flavors.

What Makes Monteverde Coffee Special

Though not one of the five designated major regions, Monteverde’s micro-producers cultivate small-batch coffee that’s every bit as exceptional. Grown at high altitudes under the dappled shade of native trees, Monteverde coffee matures slowly, absorbing the character of its soil and environment.

Our cool cloud forest climate creates conditions conducive to a longer ripening season, which improves flavor by allowing the fruit’s – indeed, the coffee bean is a fruit! – sugars and acids to develop more fully. The result? A cup with clarity and depth. Balanced. Lush. A little mysterious – a little like Monteverde itself. 

A cup with depth, balance, and a story tied to place. This place. Our place. And now, your place.

A Tour That Grounds You

Want to understand how coffee gets from mountain to mug, from coffee cherry to cup? Join our Coffee, Sugar Cane & Chocolate Tour, a hands-on, deeply rooted look into three of Costa Rica’s most iconic exports. 

Our Monteverde coffee tour takes you deep into the heart of coffee country, where a collective of 20+ families have been cultivating coffee in harmony with the cloud forest for generations. Their story begins in the 1930s, when pioneering families from the Central Valley brought coffee to Monteverde’s high-altitude hills. Today, those families still tend the same land – not just as farmers, but as stewards of our nation’s living legacy.

During this immersive 2.5-hour experience, you’ll walk the rows of coffee plants shaded by native trees, step into the mill to see how beans are washed and dried, and learn how climate, soil, and altitude shape every flavor note in your cup. You'll taste the result: fresh-roasted Arabica with deep Monteverde character – and you’ll even get to stir traditional sugar cane sweets and sample handcrafted chocolate.

This is a window into a circular productive ecosystem, where forest, farm, and family work together. At many of these farms, much of the land remains under forest cover – the shade in “shade-grown.” For this is coffee with roots. Coffee with intention. Coffee with a story. 

This is Monteverde coffee – an invitation to slow down, look around, and savor the full story, one cup at a time.

Make Time for Cafecito

There’s a reason cafecito remains one of Costa Rica’s most beloved traditions. It’s not about caffeine – it’s about community.

So when you’re here, take the time. Book a Monteverde coffee tour. Meet the farmers, the harvesters, the roasters – the hands and hearts behind every cup. Sip the results slowly at Nectandra, and pair your coffee with Ingrid’s homemade bread. Here, you’ll taste more than food. You’ll savor connection.

And for those who like their history chilled, our own Espresso Martini (with vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso, and vanilla syrup) offers a “spirited” take on the bean’s many forms. Best enjoyed by evening on the rooftop, at Ocotea Boutique Hotel!

So go on – let the moment sink in. Let the flavor wash over you. Let yourself tune into the spirit, the history, and the meaning of Costa Rican and Monteverde coffee. Because in Costa Rica, coffee isn’t just what you drink. It’s how we welcome you.

Ready for Your Own Cafecito Moment?

Book our Monteverde coffee tour, sip morning coffee with your breakfast, and visit Nectandra for an afternoon cafecito paired with Ingrid’s fresh-baked goodies. And in the evening, toast to your experience with our signature Espresso Martini, which captures the cloud forest in every sip!

We can’t wait to welcome you to one of Costa Rica’s most time-honored traditions.