COFFEE IN SUITCASES

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update:              One pound of REALLY good Costa Rican coffee- $5

Last Thursday was International Coffee Day. I’ve never heard of his holiday and can’t remember ever getting a day off from school to celebrate. However, with such a global love for this product it would seem reasonable to have a day set aside to reflect on this incredible bean. Since I live in Costa Rica, I don’t have to go far to appreciate it.

Costa Rica is known for harvesting some of the finest coffee in the world. Many of the beans are grown at altitudes ranging from 1200 to 1700 meters, the perfect conditions for a good product. Everyone who visits the country falls in love with it. In fact, your flight back from Costa Rica will most likely smell like Starbucks since most tourists cram a few pounds of packaged coffee into their carry-on bags.  With this kind of love affair, the Costa Rican tourism board should consider new ads like, “come for the wildlife, stay for the coffee” or “our monkeys are not caffeinated but you will be”.  But one that I believe best describes the experience is, “drink a cup and keep it simple”.

Coffee has flourished into a booming industry around the world and no one has helped put it on the map more than Starbucks. Likewise, no one has made the simple process of ordering a cup more complicated than Starbucks. People not only want the drink but they demand infinitesimal, mind numbing combinations in which to order: latte, caramel Macchiato, double shot, soy milk, whipped cream, etc.

Sometimes the combinations sound exotic,  “I’ll have a Venti, three pump hazelnut, no whip, white mocha, extra-foam, American cappuccino”.  Now that’s a high brow way to order.  I usually follow with my reckless request, “a large coffee with milk.” It’s not that I wouldn’t want to place an order like the previous customer, but I get confused fairly easily and half way through I would lose my thoughts and have to start over. I don’t need that kind of pressure and a Starbucks line at seven in the morning is not the time to hold up a crowd of people who have been caffeine deprived for the last twelve hours.

Once I tried to impress my dad and bought him a four dollar frothy, frozen coffee drink. When he heard what I spent he immediately called a financial advisor to council me on the bankruptcy that was surely in my future due to my poor money decisions. He then showed me the thirty pound jug of Folgers he got on sale from Pathmark, displaying it on the counter as one would a 1st place bowling trophy. “Don’t complicate your life,” he said. It might be the best advice he ever gave me.

There are also other things to consider when drinking coffee. What type of appliance are you using to prepare it? There are just as many gadgets as there are ways to order it: percolators, programmable, single serve, double serve, French press, or smart brewing.  I like the term smart brewing. As if they are insinuating I’ve being doing it the dumb way this whole time. Perhaps I have. After my appliance got zapped by an electrical surge, I adapted by manually pouring a pot of hot water through the filter and got the same result. My uniquely patented dumb method still enables me to enjoy a fresh cup in the morning.

Restaurants in Costa Rica make it easy when ordering coffee. There are rarely more than a couple of choices. They, like my dad, keep it simple. However, they do provide heated milk on the side which is a wonderful luxury. And who needs all the fancy combinations when you are sitting under a palm tree watching the surf roll in?

Therefore, it is not surprising after a wonderful vacation tourists stock up on coffee at the airport. They want to take back a small piece of their vacation.  The coffee will remind them of the breakfast overlooking the water, early morning sounds of howler monkeys, and the blue Mag-pie birds darting down to steal sugar packets.

The memories will easily flood back…. with each, simple sip.

By | 2018-04-15T18:19:36-04:00 October 6th, 2011|Categories: Tourism|Tags: , |40 Comments

About the Author:

Nadine is the author of the best-selling series, Happier Than A Billionaire. Join her as she navigates living as an expat in the sometimes confusing, always beautiful, country of Costa Rica.

40 Comments

  1. matt smith December 5, 2011 at 4:54 pm - Reply

    where can I order some?

    • admin December 7, 2011 at 7:42 am - Reply

      Next time I go back to the states I am going to check the supermarkets to see if there are any Costa Rica brands that taste like what we have down here. I don’t think you can order it, but they must have something in the stores that taste similar.

      I love my cup of Costa Rican coffee in the morning. That alone is a good reason to come and visit Costa Rica.!!

  2. Stewart October 15, 2011 at 1:06 pm - Reply

    People always ask which is the best… there are so may small farms and co-ops producing great coffee here. I always say try a bunch of different ones and see what you like. There are 7 different growing regions in CR so a multitude of factors create distinct flavors. That said, it always amazes me when I order a coffee and I’m served Nescafe Instant (which I happen to also like, but why?? in a country full of great coffee??)

    • admin October 17, 2011 at 8:03 pm - Reply

      That’s hilarious. We noticed that too. I like Nescafe but always wonder why am I drinking it in Costa Rica.

  3. Lessa October 13, 2011 at 8:31 pm - Reply

    I cant tell you why but I have gone off the stuff, I used to love it but I had a few cups of tea recently and when I went back to coffee I found it too abrasive.

    • admin October 14, 2011 at 10:35 am - Reply

      Tea is great in the afternoon. But I love that first cup of coffee in the morning. I really enjoy it, but can’t seem to like it in the afternoon. Tea seems a lot smoother later in the day.

  4. Carla Rountree October 9, 2011 at 9:29 pm - Reply

    I’m totally guilty of bringing back mass quantities of coffee from other countries (not that I FEEL guilty about it). But when I attempted to bring back some from Guatemala a couple of years ago, I was told I wasn’t allowed to pack the coffee in my carry on – it had to be checked. I don’t suppose anyone knows why…? I’ve racked my brain and can’t figure out how a large number of coffee beans could possibly place an airplane or any of its occupants in danger. Thankfully, this doesn’t appear to be an issue in Costa Rica!

    • admin October 11, 2011 at 7:41 pm - Reply

      That stinks. Everyone scrambles and shoves so much coffee in their carry on it’s hilarious.

  5. Krista October 9, 2011 at 1:49 pm - Reply

    Sigh- you know what I miss from home?

    1) Kale
    2) Pumpkin pie
    3) Kefir
    4) Cottage cheese…
    5) Citra solv

    • admin October 11, 2011 at 7:41 pm - Reply

      Oh my gosh…pumpkin pie. Why did you even mention it? I miss it so.

  6. Stephanie October 8, 2011 at 9:00 pm - Reply

    So many of us are inspired by your book, your blog and your life in Costa Rica.

    I’ll be visiting for the first time this year and would love to bring you and your hysterical hubby a “care package”. Could you please post a blog entry with the items you miss the most and/or are really expensive in CR so that your loyal fans can pay homage to you when they visit the area? I already know that ketchup, pop tarts and dish detergent top the list.

    • admin October 8, 2011 at 9:22 pm - Reply

      Thanks Stephanie, I’ll have to come up with a list. It’s really funny how us expats covet things from back home. If you tell someone you are eating Philadelphia Cream Cheese, they might just sneak into your house and steal it right out of your frig.

  7. Myra October 7, 2011 at 4:53 pm - Reply

    My favorite coffee here is Trianglo de Oro, premium blend, with cream. Yum, and made in a percolator.

    • admin October 8, 2011 at 5:32 pm - Reply

      Never heard of that, I will have to try some. Wow…just had a business idea…a coffee tasting bar. But will the customers have to spit the coffee out between different samples? Hm…I have to think this one through.

  8. Brett October 7, 2011 at 12:48 pm - Reply

    Mmmmm…coffee. $5 a pound, that right there makes me want to move down to Costa Rica.

    • admin October 8, 2011 at 5:30 pm - Reply

      Funny, I think I should talk about coffee more. People will travel far and wide for a good cup, and luckily Costa Rica has some of the best. I actually get excited when I wake up to brew some. It truly is a little piece of heaven down here.

  9. John Rocap October 7, 2011 at 11:01 am - Reply

    Been following your posts. Great stuff. Recently you mentioned that you lived in the area near Tamarindo. My wife and I were married in Tamarindo in 1996. We owned a farm with some other folks in the back country of Guanacaste between Canas and Bagaces on the Rio Tenorio. Although beautiful country there were many set backs and we sold out a few years back. We have made many extended visits to CR and now are getting ready to retire down there. We have decided to look for rental property on the Nicoya peninsula. What we have in mind is a Casita in the hills between the town of Nicoya or Santa Cruz and the beach. Our actual move is still a few months off. If you guys know of anyone who has this type of property, and have the time, please drop me a line at the attached email address. Perhaps we can share one of those fabulous cups of CR coffee soon.

    • admin October 8, 2011 at 5:29 pm - Reply

      I’ll keep that in mind if I hear about anything. That’s awesome you were married here. I hope you do retire and we can have that cup of coffee while listening to the howler monkeys overhead.

      • John Rocap October 10, 2011 at 9:24 am - Reply

        The first time I ever heard the howlers was in a hotel in Tamarindo. The first night we were there we were awakened by a horrible sound. A cross between a large cat and a caterpiller tractor!! We both jumped out of bed, hearts pounding. I went out on the patio to try and gain some comprehension. What I found were hotel workers with brooms and bins sweeping up the lovely gifts the howlers had bestowed upon us. The workers laughed at the clueless gringo and encouraged me to get back inside before I received a ‘gift’ on the top of my head. Very interesting introduction to Howler Monkeys. I have since learned to appreciate and love the sound. To me it’s emblematic of Costa Rica. I just don’t stand underneath them.

        • admin October 11, 2011 at 7:42 pm - Reply

          Noted. I won’t be doing that anytime soon. I’m lucky that there are no tree branches hanging over my terrace, or that would be another surprise about living in Costa Rica.

          • Donna October 22, 2011 at 10:42 am

            lol. We’ve visited CR a few times for the scuba diving on the pacific side and loved it there. Thanks for the reminder about that first morning hearing the howler monkeys and having no idea what kind of monsters were out there.

          • admin October 26, 2011 at 2:33 pm

            They can be so loud, it’s a natural alarm clock. It’s earie when they howl before the sun comes up, it does sound like monsters in the dark.

  10. Carlo Spirito October 7, 2011 at 10:55 am - Reply

    Hello,
    This is not so much about coffee, although I love a good cup, especially espresso.

    I am really writing because my wife and I are planning our first trip to Costa Rica, and I have thoughts of moving there. We are retired, 70, and healthy. Our biggest concern is that our grown children, grandchild, and friends are all in the Northeast US. We don’t want to be too separated from them, so… 2 questios,
    1. What are the best (cheapest) airfares to/from northeast US (NYC, Boston)?
    2. Is there a possibility of living well on a reasonable fixed income there? We do it here in Maine, but our home is paid for.
    3. I know I said 2, but I would like some links to other good, honest websites/blogs on this topic

    Thanks, Carlo Spirito

    • admin October 8, 2011 at 5:28 pm - Reply

      I would definitely check out kayak .com. It’s a great place to check on airline flights. As for a fixed income, it is really nice to come down here with $1500 a month. I do it on less, but $1500 will give you great lifestyle.

      For information, try welovecostarica .com, or try googling costa rican blogs. There are many people like me who are sharing their stories. It’s usually in a blog, where someone is NOT selling anything, that you get very honest information. There is so much good here, but you also want to know about the bad. Moving is a big decision and you want to be as informed as possible.

      Or do what I did, and hardly learn about anything. We muddled our way through and have never been happier. So taking a chance worked out for us.

  11. Tom Duffy October 7, 2011 at 10:26 am - Reply

    If you look at coffee and the preperation of it, you can see how it reflects our societies.
    In Costa Rica the coffee is simply prepared and the beans are natural in their aroma and taste. Here in the U.S. the coffee can come in many flavors and varieties, with many additives to create exotic blends. Now to prepare your coffee you have to have the latest device, be it single serve, programmable drip, expresso maker, coffee presses, grind and brew coffee makers, brewing systems, and devices with milk frothers. Wow that’s alot to deal with first thing in the morning.

    What does that say out our society !!

    • admin October 8, 2011 at 5:24 pm - Reply

      Isn’t it surprising what we will do while semi-unconscious. There were plenty times in the morning I didn’t even remember to fill the machine with water. To think there are people who are capable of frothing milk at 6AM might not even need coffee.

  12. Lary Marin October 7, 2011 at 9:25 am - Reply

    Discovered cafe 1820 from a traditional drip coffee maker. No more Starbucks for me.
    I visit every year and plan to just stay one day.

    • Lary Marin October 7, 2011 at 9:28 am - Reply

      Chorreador de café.
      Yup; that’s the name of the coffee maker

      • admin October 8, 2011 at 5:23 pm - Reply

        I’ll have to look that up, never heard of it.

    • admin October 8, 2011 at 5:23 pm - Reply

      1820 is really good. It’s one of the brands I notice people cramming in their suitcases.

  13. Nadine October 6, 2011 at 9:34 pm - Reply

    Coffee is my favorite friend. I like it simple, complicated, iced, hot, any which way. I appreciate all the ways of coffee. Nothing will ever beat that first sip of coffee in the morning whether you’re looking at crazy monkeys, honey badgers or you’re just hung over and telling your cat to stop meowing so loudly.

    • admin October 8, 2011 at 5:22 pm - Reply

      I love the video of your cat. Perhaps you should give her some coffee as well, maybe she will stop lying in the sun all day.

  14. Tiger October 6, 2011 at 8:17 pm - Reply

    I love your page and follow it always. I live in CR and I like 1820 reserve blend the best, except for that expensive organic stuff I buy once in a while when I feel like a splurge.

    • admin October 6, 2011 at 9:24 pm - Reply

      Sometimes I would buy some really fresh ground coffee and the farmers market. It was more expensive, but soooo good. It’s one of my greatest pleaures, that simple cup of coffee in the morning.

  15. Alan Allard October 6, 2011 at 5:55 pm - Reply

    Two years ago my daughter married a young man who was born in Costa Rica and who lived there until they married. We had the wedding just outside of Heredia and we spent 11 wonderful days exploring Costa Rica. Returning home, we brought back a large suitcase full of Cafe 1820 and I’m now addicted to it. We are out of if now but my daughter and son-in-law will be going back to Heredia in December and will be bringing back another large suitcase full of Cafe 1820!

    • admin October 6, 2011 at 9:23 pm - Reply

      1820 is really popular here. Every Xmas I get the big order, everyone at home wants some coffee. I’ve learned to pack nothing except lots and lots of coffee.

  16. Angie October 6, 2011 at 2:22 pm - Reply

    I have been following your story for many months. I’ve made up my mind!!! I’m moving to Costa Rica in 10 years if not sooner. Keep sharing your stories.. One day we will have a cup of coffee together.

    • admin October 6, 2011 at 9:21 pm - Reply

      I’m so happy you are following the blog. I hope one day we can have a cup as well.

  17. jill w. October 6, 2011 at 1:23 pm - Reply

    When I lived in Costa Rica during the 1990’s, I really learned to LOVE coffee (and cilantro, chile dulce, gallo pinto, chicharrones with a cold Imperial, just to name a few). My favorite was Cafe Montana, even tho it wasn’t the most prestigious brand on the shelf. Since I’ve been back in the States, I’ve email ordered Montana as well as several other brands, and no matter how I brew it, the ‘Costa Rica’ flavor just isn’t the same. It might be the water, the cream, the brewing method….about the only thing I haven’t tried is that tall cloth bag that you pour hot water thru (forget the name).
    I’m just curious….which brand do you like best?

    • admin October 6, 2011 at 9:20 pm - Reply

      That’s the brand I like as well! I love Montana. Britt is good too, but a little more pricey. My landlords use that cloth thing, they love it.

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