Costa Rica Tarrazu Coffee Beans

The Tarrazu region is located in the interior mountains of Costa Rica and is known to produce distinguished coffee. Tarrazu is a market name for coffees produced and processed within the region. Coffee from this area is known to be relatively heavy-bodied with a complex aroma.

Growing Altitude: 1200-1800 meters above sea level
Region: Tarrazu

Arabica Variety: Caturra, Catuai

Harvest Period: December - February

Milling Process: Washed, Drum Dried

Aroma: Intense, Fragrant, Brown Sugar

Flavor: Citrus, Tropical Fruit, Apricot

Body: Round
Acidity: Lively, Bright

Costa Rican Tarrazu - Medium Roast

Environmental Impact of Coffee Processing

The harvesting from December through February leads to a lot of biological waste (the coffee cherries) during the processing of the coffee beans, which are depulped and washed. While the leftover coffee cherries can sometimes be used as fertilizer, the sheer volume is too much and most of it is simply dumped into rivers, changing the chemical quality of the water and affecting wildlife. One way to mitigate this is through the development of alternative products such as cascara (coffee cherry tea) and coffee flour - which reduces the environmental impact of such a large volume crop by turning waste into a viable food product. Not only is this great for the environment, but also provides a secondary revenue stream for local farmers.

The Starbucks Reserve Costa Rica La Candeililla Estate Coffee (no longer available) was a finca (farm) based out of the Tarrazu region.

Costa Rica Tarrazu Coffee and Espresso Brewing Tips

For tips on brewing the perfect cup of Tarrazu coffee see the Espresso Coffee Guides section on coffee brewing.

For easy to follow instructions on how to make great Tarrazu espresso drinks see Espresso Drink Recipes and the How to make Lattes and Cappuccinos. Also provided are tips on Pulling A Perfect Espresso Shot.

Green Coffee Production

Year	60kg bags	Coffee grown
2016	1,486,036 bags	196,156,752 pounds
2015	1,633,630 bags	215,639,213 pounds
2014	1,407,752 bags	185,823,290 pounds
2013	1,443,758 bags	190,576,069 pounds
2012	1,657,814 bags	218,831,395 pounds

Green Coffee Exports

Year	60kg bags	Coffee exported
2016	0	0 pounds
2015	994,740	131,305,680 pounds
2014	1,144,610	151,088,520 pounds
2013	1,236,560	163,225,920 pounds
2012	1,380,100	182,173,200 pounds

Data may not be available for the most recent year.
Source: ICO

Facts

Costa Rica is the #14 largest coffee growing country in the world, in 2015 they...
produced 215,639,213 lbs
exported 131,305,680 lbs
That's over 61% exported!

Sounds like a lot? It's actually 1.1% of the coffee grown worldwide.

Costa Rica coffee is grown on mountainside "fincas" (farms) at 1200 to 1800 meters above sea level
(that's 3,937 to 5,906 ft)


Source: ICO