Costa Rica Tarrazú San Diego Jaguar Honey SHB EP 2023

Beneficio San Diego – Costa Rica’s Most Innovative Coffee Mill

Beneficio San Diego is the most modern mill in Costa Rica. It was established in 1888 and has been innovating ever since. Today Beneficio San Diego specializes in coffees from Tarrazú and Tres Ríos regions. The mill takes pride in striving for ever increasing efficiency and quality standards. At the same time, it has taken a leading role in working with producers to ensure good community relations and sustainable production.

Honey Processing

The honey process started in Costa Rica and has since spread to other countries in Central America. In this process some or all of the mucilage of the coffee cherry - or coffee honey - that coats the parchment is left on during the drying stage, giving the coffee a sweetness that resembles a natural.

As the average farm size of three hectares in the Tarrazú region, this unique honey coffee is produced by a community of farmers who deliver to the San Diego wet mill. These are carefully selected during the harvest, based on their farm condition and cherry ripeness.

This coffee was selected for its incredibly exceptional cup profile. Given the uniqueness and complexity of the honey process, no two honey coffees are alike. This craft process starts with the strict selection of perfectly ripe cherries, once the coffee is depulped the mucilage is left on allowing the natural sugars to enhance the coffees sweetness. The coffee is then dried on African beds or patios, allowing the coffee to dry in a slow and even way.

Costa Rica Green Coffee Origin Report

Costa Rica coffees sell at a premium. The country has a reputation for delivering high quality and for innovation – a winning combination. Costa Rica’s quality socio-economic infrastructure programs such as universal healthcare, high education levels, sophisticated agronomy and research, and well-regulated agricultural sustainability programs certainly contribute to the high cost of coffee. Additionally, when coffee roasters buy Costa Rican green coffee, producers receive nearly 80% of the FOB value, guaranteed. Read more in our Costa Rica Green Coffee Origin Report.