Press Release
Travel + Leisure: Costa Rican Coffee Culture Is World Renowned — Here's the Best Way to Experience It
When it comes to coffee, Costa Rica has a robust profile: the country ranks 124th in the world in terms of population, but is the 22nd-largest coffee exporter. Where Costa Rica excels is not in volume, however, but quality. With its hilly terrain, tropical precipitation, and acidic, volcanic soil, the country is home to a wide array of small producers — most cultivate 12 acres or less — that farm superior arabica beans. Despite this, many visitors may get no closer to Costa Rican coffee than the Chocolatería Britt café at the San José airport.
A more full-bodied experience can be had at Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection, a hotel in the foothills of the Talamanca mountain range with 50 casitas dotted among 180 densely forested acres. As part of what resort manager Koen Masschelein calls “AltaGracia 2.0,” the property has focused on connecting with local communities — particularly via food.