Finca Garcilaso
COFFEE DETAILS
Region: Tres Rios, Cartago
Producer: Alice Soto
Varietal: H1
Process: Yellow Honey
Elevation: 1350masl
Roast level: Light » 69.1 (W) / 113.7 (G) / △44.6
Roasted for: Mod Spro + Filter
Net weight: 200g
CUP PROFILE
No words, just swipe swipe and see picture above. But I can tell you this much − it tastes like coffee.
BACKGROUND
Alice Soto, matriarch and owner of Finca Garcilaso, has dedicated herself to preserving its legacy for future generations. Her passion for coffee runs deep, but she faces a difficult challenge: the younger members of her family don't see the value in farming and lack interest in continuing the tradition. Alice's mission is to change that perspective. By focusing on cultivating high-quality specialty coffee and securing premium prices, she hopes to demonstrate that coffee farming can bring not only financial stability but also joy and purpose.
However, her journey hasn't been an easy one. For years, the farm suffered from a lack of direction as the family debated its future − whether to sell the land for development (its prime location in Tres Rios, between San Jose and Cartago, made it a valuable real estate asset) or to preserve their coffee-growing heritage. Eventually, with the help of SMS Specialty Coffee, Alice chose the path of revitalization.
When SMS took on the project, the farm was in desperate need of renewal. Productivity was at an all-time low, and extensive renovation and repairs were required over all 40 hectares of the farm. In spite of the setbacks, they set themselves an ambitious goal: to transform the farm from a traditional operation into a model of sustainable, high-yield specialty coffee production. Over the past two years, new environmental and social practices have been introduced to protect the farm’s lush biodiversity where wildlife can thrive within clear rivers and rich foliage, such as discontinuing the use of insecticides in favor of nurturing native bee populations to aid in natural pollination.
As part of the farm’s renewal, the team planted modern, high-quality hybrid coffee varieties, which offer resilience against pests that have devastated other farms in the region. Among these is the H1 hybrid, a cross between the rust-resistant Sudan Rume and Sarchimor (T5296) varieties. This H1 coffee has been processed using Costa Rica's unique honey processing method, in collaboration with the Patalillo Wet Mill, which is yet another key factor in the farm’s transformation in recent years.
Indeed, this cutting-edge facility is meticulously designed for the country’s signature honey process which enhances its natural sweetness and complexity, while still retaining the clarity that a washed processed coffee gives. The result is a truly exceptional coffee that not only honors the farm's legacy but also stands as a beacon of what sustainable, quality-focused coffee farming can achieve.
(Swipe right on the carousel for breakdown. All scores allocated are from a standardized cupping 7 days post-roast and may not be representative of your final cup.)
COFFEE DETAILS
Region: Tres Rios, Cartago
Producer: Alice Soto
Varietal: H1
Process: Yellow Honey
Elevation: 1350masl
Roast level: Light » 69.1 (W) / 113.7 (G) / △44.6
Roasted for: Mod Spro + Filter
Net weight: 200g
CUP PROFILE
No words, just swipe swipe and see picture above. But I can tell you this much − it tastes like coffee.
BACKGROUND
Alice Soto, matriarch and owner of Finca Garcilaso, has dedicated herself to preserving its legacy for future generations. Her passion for coffee runs deep, but she faces a difficult challenge: the younger members of her family don't see the value in farming and lack interest in continuing the tradition. Alice's mission is to change that perspective. By focusing on cultivating high-quality specialty coffee and securing premium prices, she hopes to demonstrate that coffee farming can bring not only financial stability but also joy and purpose.
However, her journey hasn't been an easy one. For years, the farm suffered from a lack of direction as the family debated its future − whether to sell the land for development (its prime location in Tres Rios, between San Jose and Cartago, made it a valuable real estate asset) or to preserve their coffee-growing heritage. Eventually, with the help of SMS Specialty Coffee, Alice chose the path of revitalization.
When SMS took on the project, the farm was in desperate need of renewal. Productivity was at an all-time low, and extensive renovation and repairs were required over all 40 hectares of the farm. In spite of the setbacks, they set themselves an ambitious goal: to transform the farm from a traditional operation into a model of sustainable, high-yield specialty coffee production. Over the past two years, new environmental and social practices have been introduced to protect the farm’s lush biodiversity where wildlife can thrive within clear rivers and rich foliage, such as discontinuing the use of insecticides in favor of nurturing native bee populations to aid in natural pollination.
As part of the farm’s renewal, the team planted modern, high-quality hybrid coffee varieties, which offer resilience against pests that have devastated other farms in the region. Among these is the H1 hybrid, a cross between the rust-resistant Sudan Rume and Sarchimor (T5296) varieties. This H1 coffee has been processed using Costa Rica's unique honey processing method, in collaboration with the Patalillo Wet Mill, which is yet another key factor in the farm’s transformation in recent years.
Indeed, this cutting-edge facility is meticulously designed for the country’s signature honey process which enhances its natural sweetness and complexity, while still retaining the clarity that a washed processed coffee gives. The result is a truly exceptional coffee that not only honors the farm's legacy but also stands as a beacon of what sustainable, quality-focused coffee farming can achieve.
(Swipe right on the carousel for breakdown. All scores allocated are from a standardized cupping 7 days post-roast and may not be representative of your final cup.)
COFFEE DETAILS
Region: Tres Rios, Cartago
Producer: Alice Soto
Varietal: H1
Process: Yellow Honey
Elevation: 1350masl
Roast level: Light » 69.1 (W) / 113.7 (G) / △44.6
Roasted for: Mod Spro + Filter
Net weight: 200g
CUP PROFILE
No words, just swipe swipe and see picture above. But I can tell you this much − it tastes like coffee.
BACKGROUND
Alice Soto, matriarch and owner of Finca Garcilaso, has dedicated herself to preserving its legacy for future generations. Her passion for coffee runs deep, but she faces a difficult challenge: the younger members of her family don't see the value in farming and lack interest in continuing the tradition. Alice's mission is to change that perspective. By focusing on cultivating high-quality specialty coffee and securing premium prices, she hopes to demonstrate that coffee farming can bring not only financial stability but also joy and purpose.
However, her journey hasn't been an easy one. For years, the farm suffered from a lack of direction as the family debated its future − whether to sell the land for development (its prime location in Tres Rios, between San Jose and Cartago, made it a valuable real estate asset) or to preserve their coffee-growing heritage. Eventually, with the help of SMS Specialty Coffee, Alice chose the path of revitalization.
When SMS took on the project, the farm was in desperate need of renewal. Productivity was at an all-time low, and extensive renovation and repairs were required over all 40 hectares of the farm. In spite of the setbacks, they set themselves an ambitious goal: to transform the farm from a traditional operation into a model of sustainable, high-yield specialty coffee production. Over the past two years, new environmental and social practices have been introduced to protect the farm’s lush biodiversity where wildlife can thrive within clear rivers and rich foliage, such as discontinuing the use of insecticides in favor of nurturing native bee populations to aid in natural pollination.
As part of the farm’s renewal, the team planted modern, high-quality hybrid coffee varieties, which offer resilience against pests that have devastated other farms in the region. Among these is the H1 hybrid, a cross between the rust-resistant Sudan Rume and Sarchimor (T5296) varieties. This H1 coffee has been processed using Costa Rica's unique honey processing method, in collaboration with the Patalillo Wet Mill, which is yet another key factor in the farm’s transformation in recent years.
Indeed, this cutting-edge facility is meticulously designed for the country’s signature honey process which enhances its natural sweetness and complexity, while still retaining the clarity that a washed processed coffee gives. The result is a truly exceptional coffee that not only honors the farm's legacy but also stands as a beacon of what sustainable, quality-focused coffee farming can achieve.
(Swipe right on the carousel for breakdown. All scores allocated are from a standardized cupping 7 days post-roast and may not be representative of your final cup.)