Costa Rican coffee has been a favorite of mine since I started drinking coffee. There is just something about it that draws me in every time, and this one is not an exception. La Minita is known for processing some of the best coffees in the world which always score in the high 80’s or 90’s (which is quite high). Not only is this a great tasting coffee, but it is also Rainforest Alliance Certified and they put efforts into helping the community around them with educational and social programs as well as funding medical needs of the community.

Process: Washed

Tasting Notes: Maple, Sweet Citrus, Milk Chocolate

Our first offering in our Certified Organic line of coffees comes from the Dominican Republic. Many Caribbean coffees are known for their quality and delicious flavors, this one is no exception! It is quite unique and one of my favorite coffees with tasting notes of butter, vanilla, and nuts with a creamy body. Not only does this coffee taste amazing, but the estate where it is grown has done much to improve the lives of their employees and the community around them. Here is a bit about them,

“The family-owned Ramirez Estate run by the third generation employs over 400 workers who live and work on the property and make nearly 300% higher wages than Fair Trade Standard. Before the Ramirez family purchased the land in the early 1990s, the land was impotent and bare––natural water springs had long since dried up and farmers had only been raising cattle.

Today, the Ramirez Estate is one of the most environmentally-progressive and socially-conscious proprietorships in the world because they recycle materials used during coffee bean processing. First, coffee cherry parts that would normally be thrown out are converted into natural gas through fermentation––in turn, this natural gas powers their facility. Next, the used water is also recycled, filtered, and returned to water systems. Lastly, cherry pulps are added to a compost pile where they’re used as fertilizer useful to nearby farms.

In addition to creating exceptional coffee, the Ramirez Estate also gives back to its community in countless ways. By building schools in rural areas, local children no longer have to walk nearly twenty miles a day, and after donating books and computers, students have more opportunities to learn. The Ramirez Estate also allows other farmers in the Dominican Republic to use their processing plant to assist in coffee export.”