Description
Higuerones Estate
Coopelibertad RL
In 1961, when the cooperative movement was at its peak in Costa Rica, Coopelibertad RL was founded. The cooperative was created to provide a solution for coffee growers in Heredia and help them achieve better results in their agricultural work.
Since its founding, the cooperative has worked side by side with its members, seeking the common good. In this way, it has contributed to improving the economic and social situation of its members through the cultivation of precious coffee.
In the verdant Central Valley, where the wind carries the sweet aroma of coffee trees, cooperative members carefully tend their farms. There, the Caturra and Catuaí grow under the sun, each plant cared for by expert hands who apply sustainable techniques to improve its productivity and quality. When September arrives, the coffee cherry harvest begins, which are carefully picked and taken to the mill. There, each bean undergoes a rigorous process monitored by strict quality controls, to ensure that the fruits of the farmers' labor are of the highest possible quality.
The Farm
With a mixture of hope and concern, the Coopelibertad board members acquired the Higuerones farm from the Tournon family in the mid-1990s. This farm was located next to a raicero (tree plantation) known for the enormous, old higuerones trees that grew there. This situation worried the board members, who feared that the farm could be developed and cause problems for the surrounding environment and the neighbors. However, thanks to the Nama Café project, the farm was certified, and, at least for now, the raicero (tree plantation) is protected.
Guillermo Trejos
"All of this effort goes hand in hand with achieving a good price for coffee, and that's why we've been very attentive to all the elements that can help add value to the product. The NAMA Café project is one more element that can strengthen that vision." This was stated by Guillermo Trejos of Coopelibertad RL, who sees the NAMA Café as an opportunity to achieve sustainable coffee with greater added value and achieve a good price.
Process
This process is responsible for the quality and flavor of coffee, allowing the beans to absorb the nutrients and water necessary for maturation.
This coffee harvesting, pulping, and drying process is one of the most important and robust aspects of coffee production. It all begins with the collection of ripe berries, which are then taken to a processing location. Once there, the coffee beans are pulped to remove the outer husk. The beans are then placed on drying beds, where they are left to rest for six days in the sun and 24 hours in Guardiola mechanical drying.
This complex task, which requires great effort and dedication from coffee producers, is key to obtaining the highest quality coffee. Only then do the beans absorb the nutrients and water necessary for ripening, achieving a greater flavor and aroma, which is what differentiates ordinary coffee from the highest quality.
In addition to this meticulous task of harvesting and processing, the highest quality coffee also requires the skill and experience of good roasters to achieve its best flavor. The alchemy of roasting, as many like to call it, is the final stage in the production of premium coffee, sure to satisfy the most discerning palates.
