Coffee

JMF81123 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:04 pm

I have read that coffee is harvested in CR November through January. I have also heard that coffee beans in the market is not consistent year round but rates from very good to great. Please tell me your opinion where and when the best place you feel to buy coffee in San Jose. I usually shop for beans in the open market but also like the 1820 ground coffee in the grocery store. However, I just visit 2-3 times a year.

Billybch · **Joined:** Sat Nov 19, 2005 6:07 pm **Posts:** 73

I have been buying both ground and beans from Cafe Volio on Ave 1 just behind Market Central, for several years. I usually buy about 4 kilos to bring back to the States with me. The coffee is mello, but you can get a darker, more robust roast.

Osogrande · **Joined:** Fri Feb 11, 2005 12:01 pm **Posts:** 119

JMF:

You are correct about the timing of the coffee harvest. That said, there are two factors to consider. First, green coffee can be stored in "parchment" (the thin membrane surrounding the seed) for a year or more without compromising flavor. The "cherries" are harvested, de-pulped in a "wet mill," then dried and stored in parchment until the beans are auctioned. Net, it's hard for a buyer of roasted coffee to be sure in which season the beans were grown. Second, as with many "cash crops," the quality of coffee which remains to be sold in the home market is dependent on export demand. There are years when coffee brokers sell all the good stuff to premium roasters in the US and EU, which leaves less-desirable beans for sale at home.

The best approach is, try a little bit of everything, and buy what you like.

Osogrande

You can't buy happiness, but you can rent it.

Mongeral · **Joined:** Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:23 pm **Posts:** 209

1820 is great coffee -- cheap and avaialble at pretty much all supermercados. I always bring home a couple of bags.

JazzboCR · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:08 am

Excellent answer from Brother Osogrande. I also found this Thread about coffee--mostly it's about getting it shipped but mentions brands to look for: www.costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=27533
There have been other Threads that discuss the subject in detail--frankly, I got lazy--but do "Search"--we talk about everything here.

JazzboCR · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:59 am

Some info the 'Net coughed up:
For a selection of 43 different coffees including 17 cafe con hielo, check out a cafe in the Correo (Post Office) Building. It's called appropriately enough Cafe del Correo at Calle 1 and Ave. Central y 1. Stay as long as you like--order as many as you want.
This info courtesy of www.crtraveler.com

JazzboCR · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 2:00 am

sorry--double post

DGD · **Joined:** Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:44 am **Posts:** 1848

Couple of places in the Central market that will roast it for you right then, make sure you ask for American grind.

Whosear · **Posted:** Mon Sep 14, 2009 7:38 pm

I buy all of my coffee at the Volio stall outside of the Mercado Central. I have also purchased coffee from various other vendors around the mercado because it is roasted daily. In other words, fresh.

I prefer to buy bean to ground. Roasted beans last about a week (longer if kept in the freezer) while ideally ground should be used the same day. If you buy ground in a package, look for the one-way vent in the back (Terrazu has it). This outgases the Carbon Dioxide that ground coffee gives off (do you think we will have to purchase carbon credits?)

As for superior beans, I simply go for taste. Volio has maintained freshness better than any other brand (I'm just finishing my supply from when I returned in August)

David

Pacifica55 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:17 pm

I like the Dota, medium roast beans. I'll have to try the 1820 since it is also getting good reviews.

www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Coffee

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