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Roughly the size of Vermont and New Hampshire with greater than twice the population, Costa Rica is borderer north by Nicaragua and south by Panama with the Pacific Ocean west and the Caribbean Sea east. Columbus bestowed the name Costa Rica, translated Rich Coast, on his fourth and final New World voyage in 1502 after encountering aboriginal’s adored with large quantities of gold jewelry which, being that the country was described by a Spanish governor in 1719 as the “poorest and most miserable Spanish colony in all America”, is highly ironic. A lack of resources, particularly gold and silver, and a lack of an indigenous population available for forced labor, preventing the establishment of large plantations, contributed to Costa Rica being largely overlooked by the Spanish Crown. With further irony, this lack of Spanish interest for “poor” Costa Rica spawned a type of “rural democracy” and egalitarian society… small blessings come in unexpected ways. Historically, the result is a more peaceful and politically stable disposition than its fellow Latin American neighbors, particularly Nicaragua directly to the north, resulting in uninterrupted democracy dating to at least 1948.
Costa Rican’s affectionally refer to themselves as “Tico”, a term of endearment and national identity, and often offer salutation of “Pura Vida”, translated Pure Life. It reflects the countries philosophy of a simple life… stress free, positive and relaxed. This historical perspective is an encouraging lesson of how past experience and disposition have a dramatic effect on future events. With a 97% literacy rate and 79-year average life expectancy, statistics appear to support the “Pura Vida” lifestyle. This forward-looking philosophy has influenced a Costa Rican coffee culture that is always ahead of the quality curve producing a bright and lively coffee with snappy acidity and sweet finish.
Process: Washed… entire cherry fruit flesh is removed from the bean which is subsequently dried.
Elevation: 5900 feet
