COSTA RICA - Finca Reina Elizabeth / Sarchimor/ Black Honey / filter

Finca Reina Elizabeth

This coffee comes from Costa Rica’s West Valley, a region celebrated for its volcanic soils, mountainous terrain, and cool climate. These conditions allow cherries to mature slowly, developing the sweetness and complexity that define many of the country’s finest coffees. The variety is Sarchimor, a hybrid lineage developed from Villa Sarchí and the Timor Hybrid. Originally created to combine strong cup quality with resistance to coffee leaf rust, Sarchimor has become an important variety for producers seeking both resilience and productivity. Its compact plant structure allows for high-density planting, while its disease resistance helps reduce dependence on chemical treatments and supports more sustainable farming practices. The variety adapts well across different growing conditions and, when carefully managed, produces coffees with excellent sweetness and structure in the cup.

For this Black Honey process, the cherries are hand-picked and depulped without water. The coffee is then transferred directly onto raised African beds in thick layers inside the greenhouse. During the first three days, the coffee remains untouched while fermentation develops and a brittle crust forms around the parchment and mucilage. After this stage, the crust is broken apart and the coffee is turned regularly as it slowly dries over the next 12 to 14 days. This careful drying approach helps develop a cup profile with depth, sweetness, and balance while maintaining clarity and structure.