Perk up! You will get the inside scoop on your daily brew when you take the Espiritu Santo Coffee Tour. A visit to this coffee plantation will give you front row seats to every step in the coffee-making process including sipping the finished product. Next time you are meeting a friend for coffee back home, you’ll be able to share some interesting facts, such as how the bean comes from within a coffee cherry.
Upon arrival to the Espiratu Santo Coffee plantation, you’ll be paired with a bilingual guide and meet the rest of your group before heading out to tour the property. First you’ll be guided through the nursery which is where all of the seeds are germinated. There are many seed varieties and different stages of development to learn about and appreciate.
After spending some time in the nursery you will head to the large plantation where hundreds of coffee plants thrive. The farmers know the perfect time to harvest the coffee beans and how to properly prepare the land for replanting. The beans are then picked, peeled, fermented, roasted and ground before being ready for brewing. Coffee making is an art, with each coffee plantation providing their own signature flavor profile.
During the tour you will be brought to “Juancho’s House”, a small historical cabin where you can sit down and enjoy a hot cup of java. Have you ever had coffee prepared the Costa Rican way? Freshly ground coffee is placed in a cloth sack suspended over a cup. Then hot water is poured over the sack, allowing the water to be infused by the coffee grounds before filling up the cup. This may be the best and freshest coffee you have ever tried!
Costa Rica has become one of the most popular countries for coffee exportation. The climate within the Central Valley provides excellent growing conditions with a temperate mix of sunshine and cloud cover. Small and large family owned Costa Rican coffee plantations send their beans all over the world including to fair trade or ethically sourced companies like Starbucks.
Before you leave you will have an opportunity to pop into the souvenir shop. You can buy every coffee product under the sun, from a standard bag of coffee to coffee liquor. Plus, you’ll be able to purchase coffee directly from the grower. There are also lots of handmade artisanal products available too. This is an excellent place to pick up a meaningful souvenir or two.
The tour takes approximately 2 to 3 hours and includes a bilingual guide, farm tour and a cup of coffee. Transportation is not included from your hotel, but can be arranged. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring insect repellent, sunscreen and rain gear. You may choose to bring extra spending money to purchase souvenirs if you’d like.
Latitude: N 10° 5' 43.29"
Longitude: W 84° 23' 2.13"