8 of the Best Places to Drink Coffee in Costa Rica

If you like coffee, you’re going to love Costa Rica. Thanks to its rich volcanic soils and varied topography, this small country produces coffee beans with an impressive depth of flavor and intensity. A cup of the local coffee is the essential way to start the day in Costa Rica, whether you're staying in the heart of San José, kicking back on the Caribbean Coast, or enjoying a coffee plantation tour in the highlands.

In true Costa Rican style, many plantations are taking significant steps toward sustainability and responsible cultivation – coffee here is not only good for your body and soul, but it’s also good for the planet. Best of all, there are plenty of ways to sample Costa Rica’s delicious coffees and learn about how it is produced. Here's our pick of the best places for coffee in Costa Rica.

Why is Costa Rica known for coffee?

In 1821, the government of a newly independent Costa Rica distributed coffee beans to farmers, in the hope that coffee would boost the country’s economy. As it turned out, the soil and climate of the highlands were ideal for coffee cultivation, and this transformed this once-impoverished country into the wealthiest in Central America.

The crop earned the nickname el grano d’oro (the golden bean), generating funding for roads, railways and other national infrastructure. Even the magnificent Teatro Nacional in San José was funded by a tax on coffee exports, as well as donations from wealthy coffee barons. The mural on the theater’s ceiling, Alegoría al Café y al Banano, by Italian artist Aleardo Villa, is a tribute to the crops that played such a critical role in the country’s development.

Today, coffee is still arguably the country’s most important agricultural product and remains a significant export. Tens of thousands of farms are dedicated to coffee production, and some 90% are run by small producers managing less than 5 hectares. Every time you sip a cup of Costa Rican coffee, you'll be supporting local livelihoods.

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Coffee continues to be a vital source of income for local farmers, particularly in the Central Valley and West Valley, Tarrazú and areas with nutrient-rich volcanic soils such as Tres Ríos and Turrialba. And drinking coffee is an integral part of Costa Rican culture all over the country.

1. Escalante, San José

Best urban neighborhood for coffee lovers

East of downtown San José, Escalante is the capital’s trendiest neighborhood, buzzing with youthful energy, and visitors have lots of enticing options for eating and drinking. For quality coffee, take your pick from the classy coffee shops that line Calle 33 and surrounding streets, all dedicated to showing off the best Costa Rican brews.

Coffee culture is on full display at the cozy Cafeoteca Coffee Shop, which offers tastings, tours and coffee-making workshops, in addition to its extensive menu of 25 different kinds of coffee, sourced from plantations spread all around the country.

Curious coffee drinkers can learn all about different roasting techniques, brewing methods and serving styles, and (hopefully) end up savoring that perfect cup o’ joe. There are other inviting coffee shops in the area, and it's worth popping in to see what is brewing whenever you smell the scent of roasted beans.

Planning tip: Escalante is about 2km east of downtown San José – you can get here from the center via a 30-minute walk or a 5-minute taxi ride.

2. Chepecletas Coffee Tour, San José

Best coffee tour in San José

For a sampler of the capital’s best coffee and some bonus heritage, sign up for the Chepecletas Coffee Tour, a walking tour that introduces the city’s history, culture and architecture, interspersed with stops at three favorite coffee shops. This is a fantastic way to explore the city, see the landmarks, and get expert insights from a knowledgeable guide, with a special focus on the city’s rich coffee culture.

Along the way, you'll meet local baristas, learn about their brewing and pouring techniques, and taste the coffee in excellent coffee shops that typically roast their own beans, sourced directly from farmers in the hills. Many are owned by operators who get behind the bar and make the drinks themselves – as we said, coffee is a way of life here.

Tour stops vary, but they might include Modo Café, an Escalante coffee shop that is owned by a two-time national barista champion. Another favorite stop is La Mancha, located in a historic downtown building, which is known for its special blend of cold-brewed coffee and cascara – a herbal infusion made from the skins and pulp removed from coffee beans.

Planning tip: Chepecletas also offers informative walking tours of San José's Mercado Central (Central Market) and a guided city cycling experience, both of which also feature several coffee stops.

3. Café Monteverde, Santa Elena

Best for sustainability

Costa Rican coffee expert Café Monteverde has two cafes – one in Santa Elena and one in Monteverde – where you can sample the top-notch coffee that is produced at its farm and roastery. But do yourself a favor and visit their farm in person to learn about its innovative, eco-friendly growing methods, see the harvesting, processing and roasting, and sample the finished brew.

Café Monteverde uses several methods to process the beans, from the traditional "washing" to the “natural” process, which involves drying the entire cherry. The result is a wide variety of flavor profiles, ranging from lighter and fruitier to more full-bodied.

You can’t go wrong with the signature medium-roast, fully-washed coffee, which offers an ideal balance between sweetness and acidity, with hints of brown sugar and caramel. In season (October to March), guests can even participate in the picking of the beans.

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Getting to Café Monteverde: The Café Monteverde coffee farm is about 4.5km from Santa Elena – an easy trip by taxi. With your own wheels, drive north out of town on Rte 606 for 4km, then turn south at the distinctive Iglesia de Cañitas. For an additional fee, Café Monteverde can pick you up at your hotel.

4. Santuario Ecológico, Santa Elena

Best for mindful coffee drinking

Set amid the lush forests on the outskirts of Santa Elena, this “ecological sanctuary” offers sensual coffee rituals that are also lessons in mindfulness, sustainability and respect for nature. Depending on which ritual you choose, you might enjoy a history lesson, a garden tour, a coffee tasting or a dessert pairing.

In all cases, Chris Salazar – owner, guide and coffee guru – highlights the sights, sounds and smells that enhance the coffee-drinking experience. His passion for the earth and the coffee bean is truly contagious. A family-run operation, Santuario Ecológico also offers recommended cooking classes, hiking trails to explore, and inviting rooms to rent.

Getting to Santuario Ecológico: Santuario Ecológico is about 2km from the “triangle” in Santa Elena – an easy trip by taxi. If you have your own vehicle, head south out of town on Rte 620, then turn left at the Escuela Rafael Arguedas Herrera.

5. Café Colibrí, Monteverde

Best for combining coffee and birding

Just outside the gates of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve near Santa Elena, this tiny cafeteria has delicious coffee, pastries and – best of all – scores of visiting hummingbirds, which flutter around its patio. The place is simple, but the food and drink are on point. Sipping a coffee frappe while hummingbirds flit around your head is a wonderful way to recharge after a cloud forest hike.

Café Colibrí takes its name from the Spanish term for these diminutive nectar-drinkers, but you don’t have to be a bird nerd to appreciate the many species of hummingbirds that buzz between the flowers and feeders (also offering incredible photo ops). The hummingbirds provide the entertainment while the cafe provides the sustenance: hot and cold coffee drinks as well as mini quiches, cinnamon rolls and other fresh-baked goodies.

Planning tip: Café Colibrí sits outside the main entrance of Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, tucked into the wooded hillside on the north side of the road. Come by taxi from Santa Elena, or make a stop on a trip to the reserve.

6. La Casona del Cafetal, Lago de Cachí

Best for coffee with a lake view

On the banks of Lago de Cachí – not far from its eponymous dam – La Casona del Cafetal is a classy restaurant and hotel with outdoor seating and stunning views of the shimmering lake and gray-green hills beyond. If you’re visiting Orosí or taking a drive around the lake, this exquisite setting is a perfect place for a coffee break.

Multicolored blooms blanket the grounds, which stretch down to the water’s edge, and trails wind through the surrounding coffee plantation. The house coffee is prepared using a traditional chorreador, a simple wooden stand with a cloth filter, which is brought to the table so you can watch the magic.

Coffee from Orosí is known for its floral notes, sometimes with hints of chocolate or nuts. Enticing accompaniments include crepes and classic chorreadas (corn pancakes), topped with honey. If you're impressed by the coffee-making technique, buy yourself a hand-crafted chorreador to take home at the art market near the parking lot.

Planning tip: La Casona del Cafetal sits on the shore of Lago de Cachí, about 1km west of the village of Cachí and 2.5km south of the dam. You can get here by taxi, or come as far as Cachí by bus, via Cartago.

7. Red Frog Coffee Roaster, La Fortuna

Best for enticing coffee aromas

Northwest of the capital, Red Frog Coffee Roaster doesn’t look like much from the outside (or rather, it looks like too much, with its barrage of signs plastered around the entrance). But as soon as you enter this specialist coffee shop, the fragrance of fresh-roasted coffee beans envelops you, and you know you have come to the right place.

Red Frog is the only spot in La Fortuna that sources its beans from highland plantations, then roasts and grinds them on the premises. That explains the heavenly aroma and the fresh flavor. The specialty of the house is coffee prepared in a chorreador, but they also serve espresso, iced coffee and even coffee cocktails – the Monkey Business (iced coffee with banana liqueur and chocolate sauce) is a particular favorite.

Red Frog also gets rave reviews for its traditional breakfast, eggs with gallo pinto (rice and beans), plus – of course – an aromatic cup of coffee. This place is definitely not fancy, but the coffee is as good as it gets.

Planning tip: Find Red Frog 2km west of La Fortuna’s central park, on the main road to Volcán Arenal. Taxis can take you there and back.

8. Finca Rosa Blanca, Heredía

Best place to stay for coffee lovers

Some 40 years ago, in the highlands of Heredía, the Jampol family launched a project to transform a derelict motocross field into an organic coffee farm. They now share the fruits of their labor with visitors through informative plantation tours covering the ins and outs of coffee production, from harvesting the red coffee cherries to the final dark, roasted brew.

A daily coffee hour takes place on the deck, while the restaurant offers a connoisseur’s tasting menu, featuring coffee as an ingredient in every course. Chicken with coffee-chocolate-mole sauce? Yes, please! The owners also operate a luxury inn – Finca Rosa Blanca – in the lush surrounds of the coffee plantation. The 14 unique suites offer glorious views of the Central Valley and San José in the distance.

Planning tip: Just 30 minutes from Juan Santamaría International Airport near the village of Santa Barbara de Heredía, Finca Rosa Blanca is an ideal spot to spend the night (or several nights) on the way in or out of the country. You can get here by taxi, or arrange a transfer with the owners if you are staying the night.

What you need to know about coffee in Costa Rica

Here are answers to some common questions about coffee in Costa Rica.

When should I go?

You can tour coffee farms and sample delicious coffee in Costa Rica at any time of year, but if you’re keen on seeing the process of coffee production first-hand from beans to cup, you’ll want to come during the harvesting season (November to March). That said, most coffee plantation tours include a demonstration or explanation of the process at any time of year.

If you come during the harvest, you'll get a chance to witness and even participate in the labor-intensive process of selecting and handpicking the best coffee beans. After the harvest, beans are processed – which usually involves skinning, fermenting and drying the beans before they are roasted – and then distributed to local and international sellers.

Are there any coffee festivals?

The country’s most important celebration of coffee takes place on the third weekend in January in the small town of Frailes, 35km south of San José. The Feria del Café serves up 3 days of coffee picking races, farm tours, cupping competitions, live music and dancing, and bountiful food and drink.

What is the traditional brewing method in Costa Rica?

The traditional means of brewing coffee in Costa Rica is the chorreador, a simple wooden stand that holds a cloth filter, or bolsa. The resulting drip-filtered brew is known for its smooth texture and rich flavor. Households across Costa Rica still use this traditional method of making coffee, especially in rural areas. However, modern coffee shops in Costa Rica also offer espresso-based coffees in addition to coffee prepared in the chorreador.

When should I drink coffee in Costa Rica?

Coffee in Costa Rica isn’t just a drink to enjoy with breakfast. Customarily, Ticos often take a break in the afternoon, often gathering with friends or family for a quick pick-me-up cup. This afternoon ritual is affectionately known as cafecito, or “little coffee,” and is usually accompanied by sweets or snacks.

How can I bring the flavors of Costa Rica home?

On all coffee tours (and in many coffee shops), you'll get the chance to buy beans or ground coffee that you can take home for a perfectly delicious souvenir. Look for sealed, airtight packages that will keep in the flavor. To find quality coffee at lower prices, try local markets and grocery stores: look for high-quality brands like Café Britt and Café 1820. When choosing your coffee, consider its region of origin, as the local microclimate and soil conditions affect the beans’ flavor. Coffees from the Tarrazú highlands and the West Valley are particularly well regarded.