Where Costa Rican coffee began in 1779. ICAFE lists it at 1,000-1,400 m with about 15% of the crop, and Cafe Imports points to its natural-processed lots.
The Central Valley (Valle Central, Meseta Central) is where Costa Rican coffee cultivation began in 1779. ICAFE's 2024 table lists it at 1,000-1,400 m, harvested November to March, with about 14.7% of the national crop, and its current map also takes in the former Tres Ríos region. Cafe Imports says it has some of the most distinct weather in the country, with well-defined wet and dry seasons, and some of the best natural-processed coffees. An older Wikipedia table gave 1,200-1,900 m and a September to January harvest.
Field notes
- i
Coffee cultivation in Costa Rica began in the Meseta Central in 1779.
- ii
Cafe Imports points to the Central Valley's well-defined wet and dry seasons and some of the country's best natural-processed lots.
In the cup, according to guides
- AcidityMoreDescribed as high and very fine.
Processing
Elsewhere in Costa Rica
Sources · 4 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-11-11. Some details here are less settled than others.
- Coffee production in Costa Rica · Wikipedia
- Tres Ríos desaparece del mapa de las regiones cafetaleras de Costa Rica; vea todos los cambios que hizo el Icafé · El Financiero (Costa Rica)
- Costa Rica: Caficultura, recursos geneticos e investigacion (slides, 2024) · Cenicafe (Colombia), slides by J. C. Arias Suarez quoting ICAFE data
- Cafe Imports: Costa Rica · Cafe Imports