Best Costa Rican Coffee Brands: Top 9 Picks

The best Costa Rican coffee is shade-grown Arabica cultivated at high altitudes, hand-picked for quality, and sold both in grocery stores and online. Many consider Café Britt as one of the best Costa Rican coffee brand for its popularity and iconic coffee tours, Colipse Costa Rica coffee for its fresh-roasted single-origin beans with bright acidity, and Café 1820 for its consistent dark roast with rich chocolate and fruity aromas. However, Costa Rican coffee brands differ because people buy them for different reasons.

To find the best Costa Rican coffee, look for brands that share farm details, farmer stories, and processing methods. Select coffee with exact elevation, varietals, and certifications like Fair Trade or Organic. Check roast dates, prices, flavor notes, and brewing tips, since Costa Rican coffee brands vary in roast level, grind size, bag size, availability, and shipping fees. Some Costa Rican coffee brands are affordable and sold in local supermarkets, while others use premium beans, roast fresh to order, and sell exclusively online. This comparison reviews the top-rated Costa Rican coffees, whether purchased online now or brought home while traveling.

1. Colipse Costa Rica Coffee Perez Zeledón
2. Red Rooster Coffee La Candelilla Costa Rica Gesha Natural
3. Hacienda Doka Peaberry AA
4. Café Britt Costa Rica Dark Roast Coffee
5. Café 1820 Classic
6. Café Rey Tradicional Costa Rica Coffee
7. Café Don Cayito Yellow Catuai
8. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Costa Rica Paraiso
9. Leyenda Coffee Costa Rica Irish Cream

1. Colipse Costa Rica Coffee Perez Zeledón

Colipse Costa Rica coffee is a medium-light roast specialty coffee from Pérez Zeledón, made with Red Catuai and Caturra varietals. This coffee comes from CoopeAgri, an award-winning cooperative that earned the 2023 Medalla al Mérito Cafetalero for excellence in cultivation and quality. Colipse Costa Rica coffee ranks among the best because it uses hand-picked SHB beans grown above 1,200 meters. The high-altitude beans are denser and deliver more complex flavors. Colipse Costa Rica coffee is roasted to order, shipped free, and delivered within days of roasting.

Taste: Colipse Costa Rica coffee has bright acidity and warm brown spice. The coffee offers a clean mouthfeel and medium body. It includes sweet notes of brown sugar, lemon, and dark chocolate. The flavor creates a complex, sweet aftertaste. Colipse Costa Rica coffee is best for pour-over, French press, espresso, Chemex, and Moka pot brewing. It pairs well with light pastries and chocolate desserts.

About Colipse Coffee: Colipse Coffee is a family-owned online store founded in 2024 by Michal Sieroslawski that sells specialty coffee beans from Costa Rica.

Availability: Colipse Costa Rica coffee is available online in the U.S. as whole beans or pre-ground with coarse, medium, and fine options. The bags are in 12 oz, 1 lb, 2 lb, and 5 lb sizes priced at $21.50 per 12 oz bag on the website. The coffee comes in recyclable, vacuum-sealed multi-layer bags. Free shipping applies to U.S. orders, which arrive within 3–5 business days.

Pros: Grade SHB & EP, Roast-to-order, Free U.S. shipping.

Cons: Online only.

Recommendation: Colipse Costa Rica coffee is best for those seeking authentic Costa Rican flavor with a bright, medium-light roast delivered fresh.

2. Red Rooster Coffee La Candelilla Costa Rica Gesha Natural

Costa Rica La Candelilla Gesha Natural by Red Rooster Coffee is a light roast single origin coffee from Tarrazú in the Talamanca Mountains of Costa Rica. Costa Rica La Candelilla Gesha Natural is best for those who want truly premium Costa Rican coffee. La Candelilla Estate has been a finalist in the Good Food Awards in 2024 for their Gesha (Natural) lot. The farm became Costa Rica’s first micromill in 2000, created by seven Sánchez siblings who built an independent wet mill and pioneered natural processing for exotic varietals like Gesha.

Taste: Red Rooster Coffee Costa Rica La Candelilla Gesha Natural offers a soft, sweet flavor with notes of honeysuckle, apple, cacao, tropical fruit, herbs, and spice florals. It has smooth taste, refreshing finish, and minty hints. The coffee brews as pour-over to highlight clean characteristics. It pairs well with pastries or fruit desserts.

About Red Rooster Coffee: Red Rooster Coffee is an independent coffee roaster in Floyd, Virginia, that sources, roasts, and sells single-origin coffee.

Availability: Costa Rica La Candelilla Gesha Natural by Red Rooster Coffee is sold direct-to-consumer through the brand’s website, Crema.co, Bottomless, and The Red Rooster Café & Bakery site. The coffee is sold in 12 oz whole bean or pre-ground bags for $35 plus shipping.

Pros: Rare Gesha varietal, High cupping quality.

Cons: High price, Limited seasonal availability

Recommendation: Red Rooster Coffee Costa Rica La Candelilla Gesha Natural is ideal for pour-over brewing.

3. Hacienda Doka Peaberry AA

Hacienda Doka Peaberry AA is a light roast specialty-grade Arabica coffee from Costa Rica near Poás Volcano in Sabanilla. Peaberry AA coffee in Costa Rica is rare, with only 5–8% of beans forming as single round beans inside the cherry. The "AA" grade marks the largest, most uniform, high-altitude beans and represents the highest quality standard. Hacienda Doka won the Associación Semana International del Café (SINTERCAFE) award for "Best Estate Coffee" in Costa Rica in 2000 and 2001.

Taste: Hacienda Doka Peaberry AA has a smooth and intense flavor. It features low acidity and a full body. Hacienda Doka Peaberry AA offers a silky mouthfeel for a clean sip. This coffee provides moderate sweetness that lingers. It is best for black coffee and espresso drinks. It pairs well with dark chocolate, almond biscotti, buttery pastries, or aged cheeses.

About Hacienda Doka: Hacienda Doka is a family-owned Costa Rican coffee estate that sells specialty coffee, provides plantation tours, and runs a coffee museum with educational experiences about the nation’s coffee culture.

Availability: Café Hacienda Doka Peaberry AA coffee is available for purchase online directly from Hacienda Doka. It comes in two formats: 340g ground coffee and 300g whole bean. Each bag costs $20.95, and shipping is free within the continental U.S. on orders of $50 or more.

Pros: Single estate, Peaberry beans.

Cons: Higher price, Limited bag sizes.

Recommendation: Café Hacienda Doka Peaberry AA ranks among the best Costa Rican coffees for its smooth body and moderate sweetness.

4. Café Britt Costa Rica Dark Roast Coffee

Café Britt offers many Costa Rican coffees, but their dark roast ranks as one of the best for espresso brewing. Café Britt Costa Rica Dark Roast uses 100% Arabica beans from the Central and Western Valley regions. It comes in ground and whole bean forms. Café Britt is a top Costa Rican gourmet roaster that built national recognition through retail cafés, airport shops, and tourism branding.

Taste: Café Britt Costa Rican Dark Roast delivers a sweet, chocolatey flavor with a full body and acidic aroma. It includes notes of chocolate, dried fruits, and figs. The coffee suits espresso, black coffee, lattes, French press, and drip brewing. It pairs well with brownies and rich pastries.

About Café Britt: Café Britt, owned by Grupo Arribada, is one of the most famous Costa Rican specialty coffee roasters that sources and roasts local coffee.

Availability: Café Britt Costa Rican Dark Roast is sold online through the Café Britt website, Amazon, Paisanas.com, Best Quality Coffee, Wine Buy of the Day, Costarica Trading Shop, and White Cross E-Store. The coffee comes in a 12 oz bag, available as ground or whole bean, for $19.95. Café Britt offers free U.S. shipping on orders over $50.

Pros: Established Costa Rican brand, Strong customer ratings.

Cons: Not roasted to order.

Recommendation: Café Britt Costa Rican Dark Roast is best for coffee lovers seeking traditional Costa Rican flavor available on Amazon.

5. Café 1820 Classic

Café 1820 Classic Ground Coffee is a dark roast coffee from Costa Rica that uses 100% Arabica beans. The Café 1820 brand ranks among Costa Rica’s best coffees with a 4.6/5 rating from over 2,400 reviews. Café 1820 sources beans from seven Costa Rican zones, grown in volcanic soils above 1,100 meters. The coffee works in drip machines, French presses, and espresso machines, manual or automatic.

Taste: Café 1820 Classic Ground Coffee delivers intense flavor with fruity and chocolate notes. It has mild acidity, full body, and balanced sweetness with light bitterness. The coffee suits black preparations and milk-based drinks like lattes or cappuccinos.

About Café 1820: Café 1820 is a leading Costa Rican coffee brand with over 65 years of history.

Availability: Café 1820 Classic Ground Coffee is sold on its official site, Amazon, Walmart, Costa Rica Trading Shop, and BuyFromCostaRica.com. The coffee comes in 125g, 250g, 500g, and 1000g packages. The price starts at $13.99 for 250g on Walmart and $18.49 for 18 oz on Amazon. Shipping fees vary by retailer and location.

Pros: Affordable, 100% Arabica beans, High customer rating.

Cons: Not freshly roasted to order, Not USDA Organic certified.

Recommendation: Café 1820 Classic Ground Coffee offers affordable Costa Rican beans with intense flavor, combining fruity and chocolate notes for rich black coffee drinks.

6. Café Rey Tradicional Costa Rica Coffee

Café Rey Tradicional is a medium roast from Costa Rica’s Los Santos region made with 100% Arabica beans. Café Rey is a leading Costa Rican coffee brand founded in 1957 by Don Miguel Sánchez Picado and Don José Mora Obando. Café Rey operates from a 4-hectare facility in Curridabat.

Taste: Café Rey Tradicional has balanced aroma, strong body, and moderate acidity. Café Rey offers smooth, clean profile with brown sugar and apple notes. This coffee delivers pleasant flavor with good body and intense aroma. It suits home coffee brewers and offices using drip machines, French presses, and espresso machines. It pairs with breakfast items such as pancakes or pastries.

About Café Rey: Café Rey is a Costa Rican coffee brand founded in 1957, offering both whole beans and ground coffee.

Availability: Café Rey Tradicional is sold on the official website, Amazon, eBay, Food Bazaar, and Amigo Foods. The coffee is roasted and packed in Costa Rica, available in 250g (8.8 oz) and 500g (17.6 oz) packages. The 500g bag costs $20.90.

Pros: Authentic Costa Rican brand, Affordable, Widely available.

Cons: No roast date.

Recommendation: Café Rey Tradicional is affordable, works with most brewing methods, and delivers a strong, pleasant cup for everyday drinkers.

7. Café Don Cayito Yellow Catuai

Café Don Cayito Yellow Catuai is a specialty coffee from the Tarrazú region of Costa Rica, grown in Santa Maria de Dota. Café Don Cayito ranks among Costa Rica’s top coffees. It uses Yellow Catuai beans grown at 1,850 - 1,900 meters and processed with washed and natural methods. Café Don Cayito earned recognition by winning the Cup of Excellence three times. In 2011, it won first place with a Catuai lot. In 2018, it set a record price with a Geisha lot. In 2022, it earned first place again with a honey-processed Geisha scoring 91.08 points.

Taste: Café Don Cayito presents a complex flavor profile with notes of black grape, plum, caramel, cherry, strawberry in syrup, green apple, red apple, and cocoa. It offers a juicy smooth texture with a clean aftertaste. This coffee works well in espresso and pour-over methods that emphasize clarity and sweetness. It pairs with desserts like chocolate cake or fruit tarts.

About Café Don Cayito: Café Don Cayito is a family-owned Costa Rican coffee brand managed by the Calderón family since 1978.

Availability: Café Don Cayito Christmas Edition Yellow Catuai is sold online and in select Costa Rican stores. It comes in 340g bags as whole beans or ground coffee. The brand packs and ships directly within Costa Rica, with prices that vary by store or location.

Pros: Single farm, Limited-edition, Award-winning producer.

Cons: Small bag size only, Seasonal availability.

Recommendation: Café Don Cayito offers top-rated Costa Rican coffees. Its Yellow Catuai provides complex flavors with black grape, plum, and caramel notes for consumers who enjoy layered profiles.

8. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Costa Rica Paraiso

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Costa Rica Paraiso is a medium roast coffee from Costa Rica. It uses 100% Arabica beans and comes in K-Cup pods. Costa Rica Paraiso coffee ranks among the top rated Costa Rican coffees on Amazon with a 4.7 out of 5 score from more than 48,043 reviews. It combines convenience, popularity, and a solid reputation. It has positive reviews and a strong rating from consistent performance. The coffee suits people who use Keurig machines.

Taste: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Costa Rica Paraiso delivers a smooth, balanced flavor with cocoa, caramel, graham cracker, honey, and white fruit notes. It offers a medium body, clean finish, and sweet, exotic character. The coffee brews well in single-serve machines, works for black coffee or lattes, and pairs with breakfast foods.

About Green Mountain Coffee Roasters: GGreen Mountain Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee company located in Waterbury, Vermont.

Availability: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Costa Rica Paraiso sells on Keurig.com, Amazon, Walmart, and Kroger in the U.S. It comes in 12, 24, or 72 K-Cup pod boxes. A 12-count box weighs 3.8 oz (109 g) and costs $3.49 at Kroger. A 24-count box costs $14.99 at Keurig.com. Subscriptions lower prices, while shipping fees and bulk discounts vary by retailer.

Pros: Widely available on Amazon, Compatible with all Keurig brewers, Bulk packs.

Cons: Not organic certified, No roast date.

Recommendation: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Costa Rica Paraiso offers affordable medium roast coffee with a smooth, balanced taste, making it a solid choice for budget-conscious coffee drinkers.

9. Leyenda Coffee Costa Rica Irish Cream

Costa Rica Britt Leyenda Irish Cream Coffee is a dark roast made with high-quality Arabica beans grown at high altitudes. These controlled conditions enhance bean development and create a distinct flavor. The coffee performs consistently across brewing methods, including drip and espresso, and offers simple preparation for enthusiasts.

Taste: Leyenda Irish Cream Coffee is a dark roast with chocolate, cappuccino, and Irish cream notes. It delivers a smooth, sweet, dessert-like taste. The coffee suits black cups, espresso, or cappuccinos and pairs well with pastries, chocolate desserts, and cheesecake.

About Leyenda Coffee: Leyenda is a Costa Rican coffee brand known for sourcing beans directly from the country.

Availability: Costa Rica Leyenda Irish Cream Coffee is sold online through the Britt website, Amazon, and retail partners. It comes in 250 g ground bags and sells for $19.99 on Amazon. Prices vary by store, while Britt offers free shipping on orders over $50.

Pros: Flavored coffee, 100% Arabica beans.

Cons: No organic, Lacks detailed farm info.

Recommendation: Costa Rica Leyenda Irish Cream Coffee suits dark roast enthusiasts who enjoy chocolate and Irish cream flavors.

How to Choose the Best Costa Rican Coffee?

To choose the best Costa Rican coffee, follow these five steps.

1. Research coffee-growing regions in Costa Rica. Some of the best Costa Rican coffee often comes from the Tarrazú, Pérez Zeledón, Brunca, and Naranjo.
2. Check for certifications like Fair Trade or organic. Costa Rican organic coffee is a good choice for those seeking high-quality, sustainable coffee.
3. Consider roast levels. Costa Rican medium to medium-light roast coffee is considered the best because it preserves the bright acidity, floral aromas, and fruity notes of the beans.
4. Verify freshness by checking roast dates. Fresh roasted Costa Rican coffee is best within a few weeks of its roast date.
5. Seek reviews or expert recommendations. Buy from trusted suppliers. Great Costa Rican coffee beans can be found online and directly from farms.

Where to Buy the Best Costa Rican Coffee Beans Online?

At Colipse Coffee, we provide some of the best Costa Rican coffee beans online by sourcing directly from CoopeAgri in Pérez Zeledón. We sell our high-quality, single-origin Costa Rica coffee beans for $21.50 for a 12 oz bag. You can order them as whole beans or ground, and we roast them in small batches and ship them fresh with free U.S. delivery.

What is the Best Roast for Costa Rican Coffee?

The best roast for Costa Rican coffee is medium to medium-light. These roast levels highlight the bean’s natural citrus acidity, brown sugar sweetness, and chocolate notes. Dark roasts mute these flavors, while light roasts can emphasize acidity too strongly, making medium roasts the most balanced choice.

What is the Best Costa Rica Coffee Region?

The best coffee region in Costa Rica is Tarrazú, located in the San José province. Tarrazú coffee grows at 1,200–1,900 meters, producing beans with bright acidity, full body, and clean flavor. Known as the “Land of Saints,” Tarrazú consistently ranks as Costa Rica’s top coffee-growing region for quality and flavor. Other popular Costa Rican coffee growing regions include Tres Ríos, Heredia, Alajuela (Central Valley), Brunca, Guanacaste, Orosi, and Turrialba.