Meet Tower Roasting's Costa Rica Farm: Hacienda la Amistad

When we set out to find the highest-quality green coffee beans in the world, of course, Costa Rica came to mind.

This Central American country is known for “Pura Vida” or the “pure life.” It’s more than just an expression — Ticos live by the philosophy of enjoying the simple things in life and living purely.

We knew that we found a truly special coffee with our Costa Rica organic beans. Grown in the southern Puntarenas region of Costa Rica, the coffee is cultivated by Hacienda la Amistad — a farm committed to giving back to its community and protecting the environment.

Brew yourself a cup of Costa Rica coffee and dive into the story of our delicious organic bean... ☕

Costa Rica Coffee Origin

Grower
Roberto Montero, Hacienda La Amistad

Variety
Caturra, Catuai

Region
Coto Brus, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Harvest
October — February

Altitude
1200 — 1500 masl

Soil
Volcanic loam

Process
Fully washed and dried in the sun and mechanical driers

Certifications
Organic

The History of Coffee in Costa Rica

Coffee arrived in Costa Rica in the late 1700s via Cuba. The Arabica coffee plant was first grown in Costa Rica’s central highlands which provided ideal growing conditions.

Growing coffee quickly became one of the most profitable crops for farmers. At first, the coffee was simply consumed within the country. But by 1820, the country started exporting its most profitable crop to neighboring Panama and then to Chile. Within 10 years, revenue from exporting coffee crops exceeded that of sugar and tobacco.

 

Why Costa Rica Produces Superior Beans

The land of “Pura Vida” is well known for its biodiversity and commitment to preserving the land and wildlife. It has protected about 28% of all of its land in national parks, reserves, and wildlife refuges.

It is the home to 6 active volcanoes and another 61 dormant ones. The coffee-growing regions feature high altitude and soil rich with volcanic ash, which acts as a fertilizer to help coffee plants thrive. With sunshine in the morning and rain in the afternoon, it is the perfect climate for growing beans.

 

About Hacienda la Amistad

Originally purchased in the early 1900s, Hacienda la Amistad has given 6,000 of its original 10,000 hectares of land back to the government of Costa Rica for the preservation of La Amistad International Park — the largest natural reserve in Central America.

Of the remaining 4,000 hectares, 300 are used to grow these delicious, organic beans. Most of the rest of the land has been rewilded with forest and animals. Here, the cherries ripen slowly, absorbing the flavors of the flora.

Third-generation farmer, Roberto Montero, uses the natural resources of the land to make his coffee processing efficient and environmentally friendly. For example, water running naturally from forest springs passes through turbines generating electricity to run the wet and dry mill equipment at La Amistad. Water from depulping cherries (honey water) is treated and used to water grass fields grown specifically to feed dairy cows that in turn produce the milk used for organic cheese production.

Because the farm is close to the Panama border, it has attracted many indigenous people as seasonal harvest workers. Roberto ensures seasonal pickers’ needs are met by providing housing and free access to medical care.

Roberto provides more than 100 full-time jobs to his neighbors from Las Mellizas, not only in coffee cultivation but also in the dried fruit operation that he runs year-round at La Amistad. He hosts an annual employee celebration to recognize all their hard work and he also distributes school supplies to their children each year before school starts.

 

Have You Heard Of The Micro-Mill Revolution?

Have you ever heard of the Costa Rican “micro-mill revolution” that started in the early 2000s?

It’s the reason why the quality of Costa Rican coffee continues to skyrocket.

Previously, coffee farmers grew Arabica beans and sold them to mega-mills. These mega-mills maintained control of the process – which often included the blending of high-quality beans with beans that were improperly harvested. All to make a profit.

Now, rather than selling coffee beans to mega-mills, small Costa Rican coffee farms oversee the entire coffee-making process – from growing coffee plants to processing their own cherries.

Farmers are now paid for quality not quantity. And it’s why some of the most flavorful coffee that you drink is grown in Costa Rica.

Tower Roasting researched dozens of family-owned coffee farms before deciding to partner with Hacienda La Amistad, an organic, family-owned coffee farm in Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

Because the Hacienda prioritizes sustainability, they reintroduce natural cycles for coffee production.

Here is what I mean by “natural cycles”:

• They use nitrogen-fixing trees and forest as shade.
• Ground cover is used as mulch to make the soil more fertile.
• Coffee tree trimmings are used to stoke the fires of his bean dryers.
• Water from the washing process is used for composting since it is so rich in nutrients and minerals.

Hacienda La Amistad’s sustainability practices leave no leaf unturned! Most importantly, all of their coffee is certified organic and sustainably grown.

 

What This Means For Your Coffee

LOW ACIDITY: The coffee is nourished by a rich mineral volcanic soil that produces crops with very low acidity, deepening flavor without adding bitterness.

RICH FLAVOR: The high altitude slows the growth of the coffee trees, causing the cherries to mature much slower. The result? Dense coffee cherries containing beans packed with sultry, rich flavor.

100% GRADE 1 ARABICA COFFEE: In fact, Arabica beans are the only coffee type allowed to be grown within the country's borders – by law.

With Tower Roasting's commitment to quality and sustainability, we aim to bring you a coffee experience that goes beyond just a cup. Explore our Costa Rica Single Origin and La Familia Blend to savor the rich, flavorful notes nurtured by Hacienda La Amistad's organic, family-owned coffee farm.

 

Tower Roasting’s Costa Rica Coffee

Our Costa Rica single origin coffee is a silky, mild-bodied, balanced medium roast. This sustainably-grown, organic Arabica coffee with distinctive flavor is incomparable on every level. Arabica beans are heated in the 100-year-old roaster to ensure complex flavors of delicious cocoa, smooth caramel, and warm pumpkin pie spice flavor.

Try some Tower Costa Rica SuperPods or whole beans — and discover the difference of Flavor Above All.