Costa Rica Las Lajas - Natural

Variety:
Cassiopeia

Process:
Natural

Region:
Central Valley, Sabanilla de Alajuela, Costa Rica

Altitude:
1,300–1,500 m above sea level

Sensory profile:
Blueberries, cacao nibs, bergamot

Producer information:
Las Lajas is a family project led by the Chacón family in Sabanilla de Alajuela, in Costa Rica's Central Valley. We have been supplying this coffee since 2017. The family owns six farms, managed by six siblings, which together cover 73 hectares, in addition to a processing plant located on the slopes of the Poás Volcano. The processing plant is situated at 1,300 meters above sea level, and the farms are between 1,450 and 1,500 meters above sea level.

The farm produces approximately 2,000 exportable sacks per year and is managed by Óscar Chacón and his wife Francisca, along with their four children. Their agricultural practices are based on organic principles: although they no longer have official certification due to its high cost, they work without chemicals, reuse coffee pulp for compost, and employ highly water-efficient processes, consuming approximately one cubic meter of water per day.

Innovation is a core principle at Las Lajas. They have experimented extensively with varieties and processing methods, developing their own processes such as Alma Negra, Perla Negra, and Diamante Negro. The harvest takes place between December and February; the cherries are floated using Penagos machines before processing. In the honey process, drying is carried out on raised beds and patios using specific techniques to ensure consistency. Currently, the project employs 20 people in processing and up to 100 pickers during the harvest.