Costa Rica Finca Amistad

This month's coffee comes from a farm where 6,000 hectares of rainforest were given back to be protected forever — and the cup is just as remarkable as the story behind it.

Costa Rica's Finca Amistad sits in the southern highlands of Coto Brus, tucked against the Panamanian border in the shadow of La Amistad International Park — the largest natural reserve in Central America. Roberto Montero is a third-generation steward of this land. When his grandfather first purchased it in the early 1900s, the family chose to preserve nearly all of it: 6,000 of the original 10,000 hectares were donated to the government of Costa Rica to safeguard the park. Of the 4,000 that remain in the family's hands, just 300 are planted in organic coffee. The rest stays forested, alive with wildlife, and intentionally wild.

Roberto's commitment to the land mirrors his commitment to the people who work it. Finca Amistad employs more than 100 full-time neighbors from the nearby village of Las Mellizas, and during harvest, indigenous families cross the border from Panama to pick — Roberto provides housing, free medical care, an annual celebration to thank them, and school supplies for their children every year. The farm also carries Smithsonian Bird Friendly certification, recognizing the canopy and habitat that surround the coffee plants.

Grown between 1,200 and 1,500 meters in volcanic loam soil, this Caturra and Catuai is fully washed and sun-dried on the patio — a traditional Costa Rican method that lets the bean develop sweetness slowly under the high-altitude sun. The result is a medium roast with sweet berry brightness up front, light citrus and herbal notes through the middle, a smooth creamy body, and a finish that lands like a warm chocolate brownie.

Every cup carries a piece of the rainforest, and a story worth telling.

Details

• Origin: Costa Rica
• Region: Coto Brus, Puntarenas
• Producer: Roberto Montero — Finca Amistad
• Elevation: 1,200–1,500 masl
• Process: Fully Washed, Sun Dried
• Varietal: Caturra, Catuai
• Roast Level: Medium
• Soil: Volcanic loam
• Certification: Organic
• Tasting Notes: Sweet berry, light citrus, herbal, creamy texture, chocolate brownie finish

A medium roast that drinks bright and finishes rich — equally at home as a morning pour-over or an afternoon companion.

Coffee for Life. Purpose carried forward, one cup at a time.