HAYB - Costa Rica Hellen Mora Natural Espresso 250 g

Whole-bean specialty coffee from Costa Rica roasted at HAYB. Medium roast, perfect for espresso machines and moka pots.  In the cup, you can expect blueberries, red wine and milk chocolate.

Origin: Costa Rica

Region: Tarrazu

Variety: Geisha

Processing: Natural

Altitude: 1800-1900 m a.s.l.

Cupping score: 88 / 100

Trip to Costa Rica

This is what direct trade means to me. We’ve been working with Hellen for three years now, thanks to Nicolas, who exports coffees from Costa Rica. Last year I had the pleasure of driving up the most winding and bumpy road to the top of a mountain where Hellen’s house and farm are located. We got there in a car Nico had borrowed from his mom, because his had broken down the day before. At some point his mom’s little SUV simply couldn’t make it any further, so Hellen drove down in her big pickup truck and towed us the rest of the way up.

First she fed us, then she showed us the farm and told us its story. After the walk she prepared a cupping where she presented eight of her coffees. A cupping in the kitchen while rice and beans are cooking right next to you? Why not.

The coffees were phenomenal. And that Geisha? That’s the coffee that’s been appearing in my dreams ever since I came back from Costa Rica. Lots of tropical fruit, but without the kind of fermentation often associated with coffees from this country. Notes of banana and pineapple, plenty of red, sweet wine, currants, and everything beautifully structured and right where it should be.

I’m very happy that we’re also presenting such an exceptional coffee as an espresso. It’s the essence of that trip in a cup: sweetness, tropical fruit, bright acidity supported by deep sweetness. One of the warmest memories from that journey returns every time we roast and brew this coffee. I invite you to join me on this trip.