Aquiares

Costa Rica

Esperanza African Washed

Grade SHB EP

Meet Esperanza, an African Washed Green Coffee from Aquiares Estate in Turrialba, Costa Rica, this coffee grows shaped by volcanic soils, steady rainfall, and the long-standing farming tradition of one of the country’s most recognized coffee communities. This lot is produced with careful farming and regenerative practices, the coffee reflects Aquiares’ long-term commitment to quality and responsible cultivation.

In the cup, this Esperanza varietal, African Washed offers a smooth and layered profile with notes of cocoa, roasted nuts, brown sugar, and soft vanilla sweetness. Developed from Ethiopian and Sarchimor genetics, the Esperanza variety brings added complexity and structure to the cup. The acidity is juicy and well integrated, adding brightness while maintaining a rounded and balanced profile.

Offered in 69kg bags protected with GrainPro for freshness, Esperanza is a strong option for roasters looking for a clean, sweet, and versatile Costa Rican coffee backed by consistent production and well thought agricultural practices. A balanced cup built around sweetness, clarity, and long-term care for the land.

What is so special about this coffee?

Esperanza African Washed brings together the qualities that have made Costa Rican coffees so respected by roasters: clarity, sweetness, and balance. Grown at Aquiares Estate, this lot comes from the Esperanza variety, a modern hybrid developed to combine excellent cup quality with strong farm performance. Its Ethiopian heritage adds complexity, while Costa Rica's volcanic soils and careful washed processing create a clean, structured cup with bright fruit notes and lasting sweetness.

What makes this coffee stand out even more is the producer behind it. Aquiares combines decades of coffee-growing experience with ongoing work in varietal research, farm renovation, and quality improvement. This long-term approach allows the estate to continuously refine production while maintaining the consistency and traceability that have become central to its coffees.

Aquiares: Coffee Rooted in Community

Established in 1980, Aquiares has grown into one of Costa Rica’s largest coffee-producing estates, spanning 925 hectares in Turrialba, with more than 200 hectares preserved as protected forest. Its name, meaning “land between rivers,” reflects the close connection between coffee cultivation, the surrounding environment, and the community that has developed around the farm over generations.

Beyond coffee production, Aquiares has invested in initiatives that support long-term community wellbeing. A housing program introduced in the 1990s helped many workers become homeowners within the community, reinforcing the estate’s belief that sustainable coffee production should support both the land and the people who depend on it. Today, the farm continues combining coffee cultivation, community development, and responsible land management as part of its long-term vision for agriculture.

The Land Behind Aquiares Coffees

Aquiares benefits from elevations ranging between 800 and 1,400 meters above sea level, creating multiple microclimates across the farm. Combined with an extended rainy season and staggered flowering cycles, these conditions contribute to a long harvest period that allows careful cherry selection and supports consistency across production.

Environmental stewardship plays an important role in daily operations. Since 2015, Aquiares has measured greenhouse gas emissions and forest carbon capture through a comprehensive carbon inventory, with verified results showing carbon-neutral and carbon-negative operations. Alongside biodiversity conservation, protected forests, and responsible water management, these efforts help support a production system focused on long-term resilience and the future of coffee farming in Turrialba.

Learn More about Aquiares