Aquiares, one of Costa Rica’s largest and most historic coffee farms, sits high on the fertile slopes of Turrialba Volcano. Producing coffee continuously for over a century, the farm has developed an enduring model for growing high-quality Arabica coffee. Established by British farmers in 1890, Aquiares was one of the first estates to produce and export Costa Rican coffee.

Don Alfonso took over farm management in 1992, and at the time he was new(ish) to coffee. Throughout his life, he has been committed to social justice. From the beginning, Don Alfonso made the social welfare of farm workers and the wider community one of his main priorities. His dedication has transformed the farm and the region.

This lot is called Entre Rios, meaning between rivers, as the Aquiares Estate sits between the Aquiares and Turrialba rivers. The cherries are fermented whole under anaerobic conditions in sealed tanks, without depulping initially, then dried with a multi-phase drying method. Because of the climate in Turrialba, Aquiares Estate use raised beds, patios, and mechanical drying to control the quality.

Caturra is the main variety grown on the farm, but climate change and pests require constant experimentation with new varieties that can adapt better to future conditions. As for most coffee producers, diseases and pests are a threat to livelihoods. The two varieties, Marsellesa & Obatá, are both highly resistant to coffee leaf rust. These varieties are also producing a great cup, so there’s no compromise on quality.

Expect tasting notes of blueberry fizz, autumn raspberry, dark chocolate.