Costa Rica Tarrazu La Pastora – Coopetarrazu

Background:

Founded in 1960 with a capital of $5,800 from 228 small coffee growers, CoopeTarrazu RL is today Costa Rica’s largest wet mill, averaging over 110,000 bags of green coffee from 3,000 producers a year. CoopeTarrazu RL’s success is largely based on its dedication to coffee growers and the provision a well-rounded service that includes, among others, credit facilities, agronomical and technical advice, sustainable prices, and fertilizers. Worth mentioning is the fact that the cooperative has lately been expanding its line of business, which now comprises a gas station, supermarkets, and hardware stores, which now account for nearly 45% its annual income. CoopeTarrazu RL currently generates hundreds of direct employment opportunities. Back in 2003, CoopeTarrazu RL started emphasizing and promoting sustainable agricultural practices and the fair distribution of income to foster a more rational distribution of wealth and better conservation of natural resources. Processes and practices implemented have received the Rainforest Alliance and Fair Trade certification. CoopeTarrazu RL created the ‘Community Coffee’ program in 2011 as a means to offer new cup profiles under a traceability and community investment. To that end, different micro areas were established in the Tarrazu region, and these areas now submit their coffee to be cupped by final buyers – the extra premium is used to fund specific community projects (see‘Community Coffees’).

Coffee region: Tarrazu

Counties of influence: San Marcos

Altitude: Range 1,400 to 1,700

Yearly production (69 kgs bags): 80,000 bags

Varietals: Caturra, Catuai

Type / Grade: SHB

Type of soil —

Yearly rainfall: 2,400 mm

Average temperature: 19c

Flowering period: April / May

Harvesting period: December / February

Certification: Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade

Wet milling: Desmucilaginadoras

Dry milling: Guardiolas

Cupping Notes:

Fragrance/ Aroma: Red Fruit, Floral

Acidity: Good to high

Body: Good

Very good balance with complexity. Tarrazu coffees show notes of red

fruit cherry and chocolate.