Well its November 2008 and a great time to be in Costa Rica
to visit a local coffee farm. It's also harvest time for
most of Costa Rica and the initial gourmet coffee reports
are outstanding. Look for a very flavorful and smooth
coffee and tons of it. The best gourmet coffees stem from
the jungles of Costa Rica. Costa Rican Coffees are known to
be full-flavored, with lively acidity, and are very
fragrant and tangy. Arabica is the only species of coffee
that Costa Rica sells. It is the sole source of fine coffee
and comes from a more delicate, higher-altitude tree and
grows at a lower temperature than the Robusta bean. The
higher the altitude, the finer the coffee will be. Arabica
coffees receive only 2 hours a day of direct sunlight. The
Arabica bean is harder and has a denser aroma. It is the
bean of choice for the gourmet coffee connoisseurs.
Costa Rican coffee has set the standards for fine
wet-processed coffee for the rest of Central and South
America. The most famous coffees by region are Tarrazu,
Tres Rios, Herediá (Barva), Alajuela and Alajuela
Poas Volcano. Single Origin Coffee: Estate or "varietal"
coffees are unblended coffees grown on specific estates or
farms in specific regions of Costa Rica. With this
designation the consumer is made aware of coffee varietal
used, social practices and environmental practices (land
conservation, recycling, natural fertilizers & no chemical
sprays for example - like the Brava Estate Natural coffee)
employed in the production of their coffee. Costa Rica has
one of the widest ranges of microclimates, due to the
drastic change in altitude and climate over relatively
short distances. These differences in climatic factors
determine the flavor of the final cup.
Costa Rican coffee has set the standards for fine
wet-processed coffee for the rest of Central and South
America. The regions famous for exceptional coffee are
Tarrazu, Tres Rios, Herediá, Alajuela and Alajuela
Poas Volcano. Costa Rican coffee grown in a specific
region is also called a coffee appellation. Farmers are
saying the past summer weather conditions were perfect and
no adverse storms to factor in. Farmers are predicting the
best crop in years - both in quantity and quality. Farmers
are especially excited about the organic crops and the
highest grades of Tarrazu and Tres Rios coffees. The number
one select is supposed to be the most robust flavor it has
ever had. We are seeing huge coffee cherries everywhere we
go - report Samuel Diaz, an organic coffee farmer from the
Central Valley.
And farmers across all sections of Costa Rica are giving
the same excellent reports. Tres Rios which harvests in
December says the cherries are so full of coffee beans they
are sitting on the ground in many areas. The Tarrazu region
which harvests in November gives the same bountiful report.
The Brunca Region and Orasi regions which started
harvesting this month report huge crops. Their gourmet
coffee is getting rave reviews from local gourmet coffee
drinkers. Says Maria Sanchez - if this were wine we would
be putting Italy to shame. The West Valley starts
harvesting next week and the locals say the coffee will be
off the charts in every category.
Unfortunately many Costa Rican coffee brands are not 100%
pure regional coffee. This high quality Costa Rica coffee
is in short supply and is mixed in with other Costa Rica
coffee regions to increase the profits and raise the taste
quality. These brands should actually be called Costa Rica
Coffee Blends but pass themselves off as the real thing.
Costa Rica coffee is also used to elevate the quality of
many other gourmet coffee blends. So be sure your Costa
Rican coffee is labeled Tarrazu or Tres Rios not just Costa
Rican to be sure you are getting a pure estate coffee and
not a blended gourmet coffee.
Looks like 2008 will go down as a record year for Costa
Rica coffee. Considered by many to produce the world's best
overall gourmet coffee, now seems to be the time to try
your favorite Costa Rica coffee. Start looking in December
to reap the rewards of this excellent crop. Its got a great
flavor and very smooth this year with a huge harvest it
should be easy to find.
----------------------------------------------------
Boake Moore is an IT salesman and owns a great gourmet
coffee company called Mission Grounds
http://www.missiongrounds.com - that donates all its
profits to helping homeless children and orphans.
http://www.missiongrounds.com
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