Aquiares Estate Costa Rica

Aquiares Estate, meaning "land between rivers," is Costa Rica’s largest coffee farm and home to 1,800 people. Founded in 1890, it was transformed in the 1980s by Alfonso Robelo, a Nicaraguan political refugee, who built a strong community on the farm's volcanic slopes. Alfonso revolutionized worker-landowner relationships by allowing workers to purchase homes, fostering pride in their coffee production and creating a sustainable model for agriculture. Today, Alfonso’s son Diego manages the farm, focusing on specialty coffee, innovation, and sustainability. Aquiares measures its carbon footprint and maintains biological corridors that support local wildlife, while also collaborating with researchers.

The farm's hybrid coffee varieties and innovative processing methods, like the "Red Honey" process, have made it a leader in Costa Rican and Central American coffee production. The Red Honey process removes the cherry skin but leaves the sweet mucilage intact during the 18-24 day drying period, resulting in a complex and elegant cup.