COSTA RICA ORIGIN TRIP 2023

Our head roaster, Ludvik spent the first week of March in Costa Rica visiting many of our friends and making some new ones! Fun Fact: Ludvik actually lived and worked with coffee in Costa Rica before joining Fuglen! Here are few of the highlights of his trip.

Ludvik’s trip started in San Jose with our friends Fransicso & Damian from Exclusive Coffees. After cupping lots of tasty coffees, they set out to visit many producers in Tarrazu and the West Valley. This includes our friends Mario Araya Mora from Los Cuarteles, Joyce & her father Omar Calderon from Granitos de Ortiz, and Jaime Cardenas from Sim Limites in West Valley. 

Ludvik was also able to reconnect with some of his friends from his time living in Costa Rica, this includes 2018 Coffee Masters Champ Remy Molina and Pablo Araya from Beneficio la Eva. The hospitality in Costa Rica is always a highlight and this trip did not disappoint! Everyone Ludvik visited, whether meeting for the first time or old friends, welcomed him into their homes, sharing meals and instantly becoming family. So sweet!  Many coffees were tasted. From anaerobic fermentation, to extended naturals and a wide range of honey processes. 

One big takeaway from this trip was understanding how challenging a year 2022 was in Costa Rica. The harvest was very low, 50% of previous years, with issues ranging from fungus to poor weather conditions. This resulted in lots of defects and very low production. We were surprised to hear this as we didn’t see these defects in the coffees we received (as we were lucky to have secured the best lots of the harvest). However, our friends and partners wanted to convey to us that it is important to be open and transparent about these issues. The good news is that this year, conditions are much more favorable and production is back up to normal harvest! Ludvik confirmed this in reporting that he tasted many beautiful coffees, with delicious tasting notes and outstanding clarity. We are expecting some fantastic coffees this year!