There’s a reason Costa Rica’s traditional oxcarts are painted with such pride—they’ve carried the country’s most treasured export for generations. And this month, that heritage rolls right into your cup with our Roaster’s Choice selection: Costa Rica Tarrazú – Café Vida Washed .
This beautifully balanced, medium-roasted coffee is the perfect introduction to the essence of Costa Rican coffee culture. With mild body and cupping notes of Kahlúa, cocoa powder, and tart grape, it’s a flavor-forward experience that’s both comforting and complex. Grown high in the volcanic mountains of the famed Tarrazú region and processed with care, this coffee is a nod to history, innovation, and deep-rooted connection.
Grower: Various farms via Oxcart Coffee
Region: Tarrazu, Costa Rica
Cultivar: Common Costa Rican varietals
Altitude: 1200-1900 masl
Process: Washed
Drying: Dried on raised beds
Roast Level: Medium Roast
Body: Mild
Cupping Notes: Kahlúa, Cocoa Powder, Tart Grape
A Cup Full of History
Coffee was introduced to Costa Rica in the late 1700s, and by the 1820s it was fueling more than just mornings—it was a key agricultural export, paving the road (literally) for the nation’s growth. The iconic carretas—painted wooden oxcarts—once carried freshly harvested cherries from small farms to market, over rugged terrain to the coastal town of Puntarenas.
These carts weren’t just transport—they were pride on wheels, hand-painted with symbols of family and hope, and they remain a national symbol of Costa Rica’s coffee legacy to this day.
From Farm to Future
Costa Rica is the only country where it's illegal to grow anything but 100% Arabica beans. in 1989, an Executive Decree banned the production of any other variety of coffee - specifically Robusta. This law not only ensured that Costa Rica continued to produce top quality coffee, but it also protects their perfectly balanced soil. Robusta is often grown in large plots - to maximize the yield per plot. This style of farming would decimate the mineral-rich compounds responsible for the outrageously flavorful coffees that the world has come to expect from Costa Rica.
Why Tarrazú?
The Tarrazú region, often referred to as the crown jewel of Costa Rican coffee production, sits at altitudes between 1,200 and 1,900 meters above sea level. Its high elevation, rich volcanic soil, and distinctive microclimate produce coffee that’s known worldwide for its bright acidity and clean, sweet flavor. Tarrazú accounts for roughly 35% of Costa Rica’s coffee production—and for good reason. Rainy seasons from May to November fuel lush cherry growth, while dry months from December to April provide ideal conditions for drying the beans on raised beds.
Café Vida: Washed, Wildly Good
This lot, dubbed Café Vida , is a classic example of a washed Costa Rican coffee—clean, sweet, with just the right touch of acidity.
It showcases the hallmarks of the Tarrazú profile: soft citrus sparkle, velvety body, and notes that dance between toasted nuts and fruit-forward richness.
The washed process brings out clarity and balance, while careful drying on raised beds preserves the delicate complexity of the beans.
Our roast team gave this coffee a medium roast treatment to let those flavor notes shine while maintaining a mild, easy-drinking body that’s just as enjoyable black as it is with cream.
Powered by Producers: Oxcart Coffee
Behind this exceptional cup is a remarkable collaboration. Sourced through Oxcart Coffee , the Costa Rican export arm of Café Imports Latin America, this coffee comes from a network of smallholder farms—most under 5 hectares in size—who pour generations of skill and care into every harvest.
Founded in 2018, Oxcart isn’t just an exporter; it’s a hub for connection and quality. Based in San José, their space functions as a community resource where producers can participate in open cuppings, access a roasting lab, and calibrate on expectations and quality in real time. Oxcart’s mission is simple: to empower Costa Rican producers by improving transparency, shortening payment cycles, and giving farmers more ownership of their coffee’s journey.
That mission is woven into every bag of Café Vida. These aren’t anonymous beans—they’re the result of long-term relationships, shared goals, and a commitment to ethical sourcing.
How Do I Get This Coffee?
Fresh Roasted Coffee’s Roaster’s Choice program is your passport to the world’s most captivating coffees—and this month’s pick is no exception. Our Costa Rica Tarrazú Café Vida selection offers a beautifully balanced cup with notes of Kahlúa, cocoa powder, and tart grape.
Grown by smallholder farmers in the high-altitude region of Tarrazú and meticulously washed and dried on raised beds, this coffee reflects Costa Rica’s rich agricultural heritage and enduring coffee legacy—one still symbolized by the humble oxcart.
Order a Roaster's Choice subscription by June 10th, 2025, to experience this coffee for yourself!
Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC offers Roaster's Choice coffees in bagged coffee as well as classic pods. Subscribers can choose from 3-, 6- or 12- month subscription plans.
Ready to savor the unparalleled flavors of this month’s Roaster’s Choice? Limited quantities available, so don’t miss out!
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