Roasted - Costa Rica Grand Peaberry (Coffee of the Week)

About the bean

What a peaberry!

This entry marks our first encounter with a peaberry from Costa Rica and it truly exceeds our expectations, which were way high. In unroasted form, the beans are impressively uniform, dense, and large, and exude a super fresh aroma reminiscent of lush grass (we could almost picture ourselves standing in a coffee plantation!). Packaged in a GPRO bag, the freshness for this lot is well preserved indeed.

Brewed for our taste test as both an Americano and drip, the cupping notes described are spot on (see below). Delightfully sweet with a mild acidity that harmonizes with the caramel notes, this peaberry is a just-right juicy (but not overwhelmingly so) must-try. One to explore across the roast profile spectrum. An easy roast, the Grand Peaberry does require a bit of extra heat at the beginning to penetrate the beans’ density. 

Caramel. Dark Chocolate. Juicy. Citrus.

How could this pick possibly get better? Well, it can! Sourced from Costa Rica’s legendary Aquiares Estate (meaning “land between rivers”), Aquiares is a vibrant community and the largest coffee farm in Costa Rica. Home to 1,800 residents, Aquiares is a model of sustainable agriculture. Founded in 1890 by Alfonso Robelo, a Nicaraguan refugee, Alfonso revolutionized the relationship between landowners and farm workers through home ownership, enabling employees to purchase their homes on farm land, fostering an enduring pride and stability within the community. Today, under the leadership of Alfonso’s son, Diego, Aquiares’ forward march has focused on specialty coffee production, including a leadership role as a global research center for biodiversity and innovative agricultural practices. The estate’s Grand Peaberry, known for its unique round shape and larger bean size, exemplifies the quality and commitment to sustainability that defines the Aquiares difference.

QUICK NOTES

REGION: Turrialba, Costa Rica
FARM: Aquiares Estate
VARIETAL: Mixed Variety Peaberry
SCREEN SIZE: 15+
PROCESS: Fully Washed
DRYING: Sun-dried
ALTITUDE: 1,200 masl.
CERTIFICATIONS: Carbon Neutral Farm
ROAST RECOMMENDATION: Flexible

Our Coffee of the Week roasted option is available in the following profiles: City (medium light), Full City (medium dark) and Vienna (espresso). For an explanation of our different roasts, see: http://greenbeanery.ca/pages/roasting-chart.