Costa Rica Coffee Regions

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2 Café de Costa Rica has been designed with Geographical Indication as an endorsement of our unique model including the fair price payment system to coffee growers (Liquidation), our environmental friendly mills, and continuous agronomical and milling research. Costa Rica Coffee Regions Papagayo LIBERIA Caribbean Sea Valle Central Central Valley Unpaved Roads LargeTowns SmallTowns Pacific Ocean Tarrazu Tres Rios Unpaved Roads Orosi LargeTowns SmallTowns Carretera Panamericana ɑɋɡɪȫęɋ ژ ল Ruta Primaria ଷ Capital Provincial Large Towns Pueblo ੮ Volcán ϴ ܥ Aeropuerto Internacional ڧ ۱ ٷ Pan Amer Primary H Provincia Large Tow Oros Internatio West Valley 01

3 Eight Coffee Producing Regions 8 Regions 8 Flavors Variety to chose from Costa Rica s climate has two seasons: one of moderate rains during the cherry s growth and development; and one of diminished precipitation - the dry season, which coincides with the harvest. Our country, with nature s blessing, differentiates its coffee by 8 Producing Regions, which enables distinctive kinds of cups for demanding consumers with varied tastes all over the world. Altitude, soil composition, precipitation amount and different temperatures are all factors that help to achieve a coffee with different organoleptic characteristics, but always, with excellent quality. The 8 Producing Regions are divided into lowlands below 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) of altitude, where coffee is lighter; and highlands over 1,200 meters (3,937 feet) with a volcanic origin; which produce coffee with higher acidity and stronger aroma. This is where more than 80% of Costa Rican coffee is grown. Costa Rica keeps a special and strict control over their farms out the year. During the harvest, cherry collection is still done manually and selectively, choosing only those cherries in optimum stage of ripening in order to achieve a beverage with organoleptic characteristics of the highest quality. The harvest period varies out the 8 Producing Regions, according to climate and coffee trees flowering. Café de Costa Rica s Sustainable Model Ethical Trade Since 1933, every coffee transaction and delivery in Costa Rica is directed the Costa Rica Coffee Institute, ICAFE, which register them based on the international coffee market s real base price. This is called the Liquidation Payment System. As a result, coffee Producers receive around 80% of the price for each 46-kg bag sold. Research Development and Technology Transfer Since 1977 in Costa Rica, the Center for Investigation in Coffee- CICAFE, in cooperation with Ministry of Agriculture, has developed extensive research and development around cultivating and milling of coffee. Coffee Production and Milling in harmony with nature Every coffee mill in Costa Rica must meet 7 laws and 4 national decrees that deal with environmental care, hydrocarbon production and wildlife protection. This legislation protects water, forest, and biodiversity. For more information, please visit: Central Valley West Valley Orosi Altitude above sea level 20% at 900 to 1,600 meters (2,952 to 5,249 feet); 80% at 1,000 to 1,400 meters (3,280 to 4,593 feet) 700 to 1,600 meters (2,296 to 5,249 feet) 1,200 a 1,900 meters (3,937 to 6,233 feet) 1,200 to 1,650 meters; (3,937 to 5,413 feet) 1,000 to 1,400 meters (3,280 to 4,593 feet) 600 y 1,700 meters (1,968 to 5,577 feet) 500 to 1,400 meters (1,640 to 4,593 feet) 600 to 1,300 meters (1,968 to 4,265 feet) Precipitation mms and inches 3,400 mms 134 inches 2,250 mms 88 inches 3,500 mms 138 inches 2,800 mms 110 inches 2,100 to 3,500 ms 83 to 138 inches Temperature 22 C 72 F 21.5 C 71 F 18 C 64 F 21 C 70 F 20 C 68 F 22 C 71 F 23 C 73 F 26 C 78 F Relative humidity 84% November 81% October 75% November 80% November 82% September 85% to 100% Harvest Soils Shade August 82% July 50% to 70% July Ultisols Ultisols and Alfisols Ingas, Erythrinae Ingas, and Erythrinae Ingas and Timber trees Leguminosae Ingas 02 19

4 coffee has been a fundamental pillar for Costa Rican society and a drive for financial, social and cultural development; hence it has been called the Golden Bean. Costa Ricans have historically based their idiosyncrasy around coffee growing, an economic activity of enormous transcendence that has greatly influenced the country s model of development. Coffee remains the source of income for a large number of families out the country s 8 producing regions. Furthermore, it fuels the economic and social development in every town or coffee community. Unlike other coffee producing countries, coffee in Costa Rica has served to democratize land ownership and improve the quality of life of coffee farmers: 90% of them are small and medium sized producers who own their farms. Costa Rica has privileged lands, with ideal natural characteristics that are perfect for cultivation of coffee of the highest quality: there are soils of a volcanic origin, rich in minerals and distributed in microclimates at excellent altitudes in every region. Costa Rican coffee is very well appreciated in the specialty coffee niches, this has made possible the continued existence of the Costa Rican coffee industry. Thanks to the experienced gained from producing coffee for over two centuries, and to the scientific advances achieved research over half a century, Costa Rica has developed a model that is highly efficient in the production and treatment of coffee beans, always with a commitment to the environment in mind. The Costa Rican painted oxcart. In the nineteenth century, our crude wheels got sacks full of coffee beans out of the fields, and with time brought prosperity to the entire country creating the conditions to turn the typical oxcart into a work of art. This story reached its highest point on 2005, when UNESCO declared the Costa Rican painted oxcart Cultural Heritage of Humanity

5 Tel : (506) / Fax: (506) Calle 1, Avenida 18 y 20 Apdo. Postal San José, Costa Rica. info@cafedecostarica.com