A tiny volcanic-island coffee crop, reported to sell at premium prices.
Wikipedia notes that San Cristóbal's penal colony, established in 1880 and later a military base, was an export centre for island products including coffee. Today's output is small, with one estimate of about 6,000 bags a year across the archipelago, roughly half from San Cristóbal. Hacienda El Cafetal on San Cristóbal is a fully organic farm growing Bourbon, Typica, Caturra and Maragogype at roughly 130-350 m. One 2018 source reports farmgate prices of about $5-11/lb. Sources differ on quality: one says the high humidity makes good arabica hard to grow, while another describes the coffee as well-balanced, rounded and low in acidity.
Field notes
- i
San Cristóbal Island's penal colony, established in 1880 and later a military base, served as an export centre for island products including coffee, sugar, cassava and fish.
- ii
Arabica was first planted on San Cristóbal in 1879, from Bourbon-type stock.
- iii
About 6,000 bags are grown across the archipelago, roughly half of them on San Cristóbal.
Sources · 5 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.
- San Cristóbal Island · Wikipedia
- Origin Spotlight: Ecuador · Driftaway Coffee
- Origin Spotlight: Exploring Ecuador's Specialty Coffee · Perfect Daily Grind
- Ecuador Coffee · Coffeeness
- Ecuador - Galápagos San Cristobal - Hacienda El Cafetal · InterAmerican Coffee