Costa Rica — Diego Robelo, Finca Aquiares, Esperanza (Honey)

Tastes Like — 🍫 Cocoa Powder • 🍇 Figs • 🥜 California Walnuts

DETAILS

• Producer: Diego Robelo
• Farm: Finca Aquiares
• Region: Turrialba, Costa Rica
• Varietal: Esperanza (Sarchimor T5296 x Ethiopian 25)
• Process: Honey
• Altitude: 1,200–1,400 MASL
• Harvest: 2025
• Size: 250g

INTRO

Finca Aquiares sits on the slopes of the Turrialba volcano at 1,400 metres above sea level, making it Costa Rica's largest single-block coffee plantation. Owned by Diego Robelo and his family, this extraordinary estate is crisscrossed by waterways connecting the Turrialba and Aquiares rivers, creating a stunning natural landscape that once hosted a pre-Columbian community.

This marks our ninth consecutive year working with Aquiares and the seventh under a direct trade arrangement. We negotiate the price directly with Diego, who also serves as the exporter, ensuring the commission is reinvested back into the farm. We charter our container directly from Costa Rica to Barcelona, shortening the supply chain and preserving quality.

THE PRODUCER

Diego Robelo and his family have been cultivating coffee at Finca Aquiares for generations. Their commitment to sustainability and quality has made Aquiares a benchmark for speciality coffee from Costa Rica. The farm spans over 620 hectares of shade-grown coffee with an additional 200 hectares of protected forest.

Aquiares was the first carbon-neutral farm in Costa Rica and has become a model for environmental stewardship in the coffee industry. Their dedication to direct relationships with roasters like Nomad Coffee ensures that the value chain remains transparent and beneficial for everyone involved.

THE PROCESS

The Honey Process at Finca Aquiares involves:

• 🍒 Cherry Selection — Cherries are selected by density in water to ensure the highest quality
• 🔧 Pulping — Cherries are mechanically pulped whilst retaining mucilage
• ☀️ Initial Drying — Sun-dried for 2 days on ceramic tiles
• ☀️ Extended Drying — Continued drying on raised beds for 8 days
• 🌡️ Mechanical Finishing — One day in Guardiola dryers to homogenise the batch

This carefully controlled process preserves the sweetness of the mucilage whilst developing the rich, syrupy body that defines this coffee.

THE CUP

The aroma is very sweet, with distinct notes of cocoa powder and milk chocolate. It's slightly fruity, with hints of figs and loquats. The flavour remains sweet, with notes of nuts such as hazelnuts and walnuts. On the palate, it's dense, with a syrupy body and very mild acidity. A well-balanced coffee that's excellent on its own and even better with milk.

Flavour Notes

• 🍫 Cocoa Powder
• 🍇 Figs
• 🥜 California Walnuts