There’s a reason why Costa Rican green coffee is synonymous with quality and innovation – the origin prides itself on tightly regulated practices that go hand-in-hand with a priority for efficiency and ecological conservation. This has led to creative coffee processing that not only reduces waste and resource consumption, but also results in attention-grabbing flavors like those found in this Jaguar Mountain Natural Anaerobic.
Natural Anaerobic Process Coffee
The natural anaerobic process at Beneficio San Diego Mill starts with handpicked super mature coffee cherries that have a Brix degree (a measurement of sugar content) near 26. Costa Rica is the only origin to weigh cherries by volume (one fanega of coffee cherries equals around 46 kilograms of coffee beans) which encourages pickers to harvest cherries at their largest and ripest. Cherries with a high sugar content help feed the anaerobic process, where the cherry and mucilage is left on the bean (natural processing) and placed in airtight tanks to stimulate the anaerobic fermentation process. The oxygen-deprived coffee then develops in a unique mix of acids such as lactic and malic, creating a very complex flavor. Once the fermentation is complete, the coffee is 100% sun dried.
Beneficio San Diego Mill
Beneficio San Diego Mill has been on the forefront of Costa Rica’s coffee innovation since 1888, making it one of the oldest yet most modern mills in the country. It receives coffee from over 2000 small producers in the Tarrazú and Tres Ríos regions, each with farm sizes that average at three hectares, and works closely with producers to ensure good community relations and sustainable production.
Environmental Conservation
What also makes this coffee special is Volcafe’s agreement with Fundación Pro Zoológicos to donate $1 for every quintal sold (around 46 kilograms) to finance the organization’s efforts to preserve endangered Jaguars in Costa Rica. Volcafe has been involved in both in situ (in their natural habitat) and ex situ (outside their natural habitat) conservation for big cats in Costa Rica since 2010. COVID-19’s impact on funding from visitations to zoos and conservation centers have raised additional challenges for Jaguar conservation, making fundraising more important than ever to aid in Fundación Pro Zoológicos’ efforts.
Origin Report
Few coffee-producing countries go the extra mile to protect their agricultural workforce like Costa Rica does. After a violent civil war in 1948, the newly-formed Constitutional Assembly abolished the military. This move reallocated Costa Rica’s budget to medical care and education, propelling the country into a period of peace and growth to this day.
Country: Costa Rica
Region: Tarrazu
Farm: Beneficio San Diego Mill, Various Smallholders
Elevation: 1200-1750 MASL
Variety: Caturra and Catuai
Processing: Natural Anaerobic
Tasting notes: Delicate, bright, and nuanced with cinnamon, hibiscus, honey, berries, and apple.
Website orders are roasted and packed every Monday and picked up Tuesday by USPS for delivery. As we only roast exactly as much of each coffee as we have known orders for, please be sure and place your order no later than 10 AM (PST) on Monday for fulfillment that week. Orders that come in later than that may not be fulfilled until the following week.
Here is a quick guide to what our shipping rates are based on the quantity you order:
Orders weighing 0 - 7.99 Pounds ship for $8.00.
Orders weighing 8 Pounds or more ship for Free!
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