Costa Rica Marcos and Maricela Oviedo Light Roast Coffee

When faced with the challenge of keeping his family farm alive, Marcos and his wife Maricela decided to take matters into their own hands. They built their very own micro mill which has allowed them to improve their production and cupping scores. Marcos is a DIY master and even built his own coffee roaster on site to roast sample batches and ensure their quality standards are met every harvest. In the latest run at Sircof, they have produced our new delicious honey-washed coffee which tastes like orange zest and chocolate milk! 

Traditionally, coffee producers have used two main techniques for processing their beans: natural (or dry) and washed. The honey (or pulped natural) process is a hybrid that combines elements of both techniques by de-pulping the bean, but not washing away the sticky mucilage. This mucilage is reminiscent of honey and it offers an intense sweetness and complex mouthfeel. These coffees achieve a more rounded acidity than washed coffees and are not quite as fruity or “out there” as natural coffees. They are also environmentally friendly as they are not using water to wash away the mucilage. 

The Costa Rican Farmer’s Project’s mission is to “cultivate quality coffee using sustainable practices and to establish long-term relationships with buying partners who believe in doing business with integrity and fairness in mind”. Coffee is about bringing people together and we know that the stability that comes with purchasing coffee from the same farms year after year, allows producers to take risks and continually innovate while ensuring fair pay. 

With their hard work and attention to detail, as well as their willingness to adapt to a changing global coffee economy and to tackle the challenges of climate change, in many ways Marcos and Maricela represent the future of specialty coffee in Costa Rica.