Three saint-named cantons grown at about 1,200-1,900 m, where ICAFE describes good body and a fine, high acidity that is not pungent.
Tarrazú is the best-known area of ICAFE's Los Santos zone, whose three cantons (San Marcos de Tarrazú, Santa María de Dota and San Pablo de León Cortés) are named after saints. ICAFE describes the zone's coffee as grown at about 1,200 to 1,900 m and picked from November to March, mainly Caturra and Catuaí, with good body, high and fine acidity and an excellent aroma. ICAFE's 2024 regional table gives Los Santos 40.5% of the national crop, the largest share of any region. Geisha planting began in 2012, and a Tarrazú Geisha became Starbucks' most expensive coffee in 48 US stores.
Field notes
- i
A Tarrazú Geisha became the most expensive coffee Starbucks sold, in 48 of its US stores.
- ii
ICAFE renamed its Tarrazú region Los Santos because the Tarrazú name now belongs to a denomination of origin that only the cantons of Tarrazú, Dota and León Cortés may use.
- iii
Los Santos is named for its cantons: San Marcos de Tarrazú, Santa María de Dota and San Pablo de León Cortés.
- iv
ICAFE's 2024 regional table gives Los Santos about 40.5% of Costa Rica's crop, more than any other region.
- v
Ozone Coffee says the Tarrazú micromill Don Mayo, founded in 2003, is one of the oldest micromills in Costa Rica.
In the cup, according to guides
- AcidityMoreICAFE describes the acidity as high and fine, not pungent. Cafe Imports says crisp and a Perfect Daily Grind tour piece says bright and juicy, so four sources agree.
- BodyMoreICAFE's own Los Santos page lists good body. No second source says so.
Within Tarrazú
Elsewhere in Costa Rica
Sources · 8 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)
- Carlos Alvarado entregó certificación de denominación de origen a Café Tarrazú · Teletica
- Los Santos - regiones cafetaleras · ICAFE (Instituto del Cafe de Costa Rica)
- Costa Rica: Caficultura, recursos geneticos e investigacion (slides, 2024) · Cenicafe (Colombia), slides by J. C. Arias Suarez quoting ICAFE data
- 929 Costa Rica Don Mayo La Ladera Honey · Ozone Coffee Roasters
- Recorrido por las zonas cafeteras de Costa Rica · Perfect Daily Grind
- Cafe Imports: Costa Rica · Cafe Imports