Introducing Costa Rica San Jorge Washed

Inside This Month’s Roaster’s Choice: Costa Rica San Jorge Washed

Every month, our Roaster’s Choice subscribers receive a coffee selected to tell a different story. Sometimes that story is about a rare processing method, a unique origin, or a coffee that simply surprised us on the cupping table. This month’s selection comes from Costa Rica’s Brunca region and showcases what we love about a well-executed washed coffee: balance, sweetness, clarity, and an easy-drinking character that still rewards attention.

Coffee Snapshot

A Coffee That Rewards Slowing Down

Some coffees demand your attention with bold fruit or intense acidity. Others quietly impress through balance and refinement. This Costa Rica belongs firmly in the second category.

During our cupping, we were immediately struck by its elegance. Andrew described the coffee as reminiscent of breakfast tea with honey, layered with caramelized sugar, pomegranate, and creamy chocolate. As the coffee cooled, we found ourselves returning to notes of dried pineapple and a lingering sweetness that reminded us why Costa Rica continues to produce some of the world's most approachable specialty coffees.

Rather than chasing intensity, this coffee delivers harmony. Every component feels intentional, making it the kind of cup that is equally enjoyable as your first coffee of the morning or a slow afternoon pour-over.

The Brunca Region

Located in southern Costa Rica, the Brunca region is defined by volcanic soils, rolling mountains, and elevations ranging from 700 to 1,100 meters above sea level. These growing conditions allow coffee cherries to mature gradually, producing dense beans with exceptional sweetness and balance.

Costa Rica has earned its reputation as one of the world's premier coffee-producing countries through a relentless focus on quality and innovation. While many producing nations rely on tradition alone, Costa Rican producers continually refine cultivation and processing techniques to produce coffees with remarkable clarity and consistency.

The Cooperative Behind the Coffee

This coffee was produced by smallholder farmers working with Coopeagri R.L., Costa Rica's largest agricultural cooperative.

Founded in 1962, Coopeagri was established to improve production and market access for small- and medium-sized farmers around San Isidro de General. Today, the cooperative represents more than 10,000 members while continuing to invest heavily in the communities it serves.

Beyond coffee production, Coopeagri supports its members through agronomy education, organic fertilizer production, medical facilities, and community outreach programs. Their commitment to improving both coffee quality and farmer livelihoods reflects a philosophy we deeply appreciate at Lanna Coffee.

Thoughtful Processing

After harvest, ripe cherries are selectively handpicked and delivered to a nearby wet mill where they undergo a fully washed process. Costa Rica has become known for environmentally conscious processing methods that reduce water consumption while preserving exceptional cup quality.

Many mills utilize mechanical demucilaging rather than relying entirely on traditional fermentation, limiting water use and reducing nutrient-rich runoff. The parchment is then washed and sun-dried, producing a coffee celebrated for its clean sweetness and transparent flavor profile.

Why Costa Rica Continues to Stand Out

Few countries have embraced specialty coffee quite like Costa Rica. The country's emphasis on traceability, sustainability, and technical excellence has positioned it as a global leader in premium coffee production.

While many producers now operate boutique micro-mills that process coffee according to each farm's specifications, cooperatives like Coopeagri continue to provide invaluable support for thousands of smallholder farmers. The result is a coffee industry capable of producing both remarkable quality and meaningful economic opportunity.

Why We Chose This Coffee

Every Roaster's Choice selection is an opportunity to introduce subscribers to something new. While some coffees capture attention through experimental processing or bold flavor profiles, others remind us that simplicity executed exceptionally well can be equally memorable.

This Costa Rica embodies that philosophy. It is sweet without being overpowering, bright without being sharp, and complex without demanding your attention. It is simply a beautifully balanced coffee that showcases why washed Costa Rican coffees continue to be favorites among specialty coffee professionals around the world.