Café Britt!

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Coffee beans, ground coffee, chocolate covered coffee beans, iced coffee drinks, coffee liquors, coffee candies . . . coffee everything! Today was our day to visit Café Britt and learn about the production of coffee, from the first step of planting to the final step of roasting and packaging. The Café Britt Coffee Tour is not just another tour. Yes, it is full of information about coffee production and its importance in Costa Rica, but it is also funny and full of surprises. We walked down a path totally surrounded by coffee plants and tropical trees, where the Britt guides explained the planting, growing, and hand-picking processes. Then we were led to the roasting area, where large roasters are used for varying amounts of time to create light roasts, dark roasts and espresso roasts. The next stop was a small auditorium where we were shown how to prepare coffee in both the traditional and the modern ways, and Natalie was chosen as a volunteer for the "cupping" demonstration. Her job was to smell and taste the coffee as the professional taste-testers really do here in Costa Rica. Her slurping technique was far superior to that of the Spanish-speaking older gentleman who was also chosen for the demonstration! Our energetic guides then took us on a simulated tour (in a strange little car) of all of the coffee-growing regions of the country, explaining the climatic differences among them as well as how these various microclimates affect the taste of the coffee. After the demonstration/show, our final stop was the Café Britt shop, where we could sample coffee and candy and purchase any of the treats or other products displayed there. The shop flows into a beautiful, open-air dining room, where we enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch of gourmet-quality, typical Costa Rican food. We hope this selection of photos gives you a good idea of the Café Britt experience. If you ever visit Costa Rica, the Café Britt Coffee Tour is an absolute MUST DO!

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Photos

It Goes to Sleep!
This plant "goes to sleep" (kind of shrinks) when you touch it

Half and Half
Now the plant is half "asleep" and half "awake"

Coffee Trail
The ASU group and others walk through the coffee field on the tour

Lots of Info
The group listens as the guide explains coffee growing techniques

Controling Insects
Insects are controlled organically in the coffee fields using traps like this one

Roasting
The guide explains the roasting process

Bagging
We caught a glimpse of workers bagging coffee

Old-Fashioned
This is the old-fashioned way to prepare coffee in Costa Rica

Taste-Testing
Natalie volunteers for the "cupping" demonstration

First You Smell It
The volunteers make sure the coffee has a good aroma

Now You Slurp
Natalie's slurping skills are impressive!

Coffee-Growing Regions
A quick visit to each of the Britt growing regions

Nice Buffet
This is part of the lunch buffet

Buying Britt
Lesley makes a purchase

After Much Deliberation
Sean pondered his purchases carefully

Waiting for the Bus
Xeng and Monique relax for a minute after lunch