The Evolution of San José’s Cafecito | 25, Issue 16
A few years back, when you asked for a cafecito, or small coffee, in any soda or coffee shop in Costa Rica, you would—without doubt—get a simple black coffee made in a coffee maker or our typical chorreador.[1] Recently, however, ordering a cafecito—especially in San José— will get you a range of specialty coffee with different processing methods, unique varieties, and many options for filtering methods.
MARÍA PAZ LOBO ZELEDÓN explains how the cafecito experience is changing in the Costa Rican capital.
Although Costa Rica has one of the highest consumptions of coffee per capita in Latin America,[1] only 12 percent of its coffee remains in the country for local consumption, making it difficult for Costa Ricans to drink 100 percent Costa Rican coffee every day. But the Instituto del Café de Costa Rica (the Costa Rican Coffee Institute, or ICAFE) and a group of specialty coffee shops are on a mission to get locals and visitors easy access to the high quality Costa Rican coffee the rest of the world gets to enjoy every day.[2]
At the heart of San José’s specialty coffee scene, the most obvious place to start is Barrio Escalante, which is filled with vibrant streets of endless restaurants. Here, you can find amazing coffee in coffee shops such as Franco, Cafeoteca, and Cabra Negra. All three coffee shops source coffee from the eight different regions of the country and do a wonderful job of showcasing the newest in innovation and creativity that our local mills and farmers have to offer. Their role in educating a new generation of coffee consumers has had a ripple effect that can be felt throughout the city as more coffee shops open every year, and has also led to more young people visiting coffee farms as a weekend escape from the city.
Closer to the center of San José, a few blocks from the National Theater and tucked in between the large crowds of people and stores, you can find Café La Mancha in one of the oldest buildings in San José. Known as the Steinvorth, it was once home to some of the best and most alternative concerts in the city. La Mancha is a specialty coffee shop in an unlikely location, offering a beautiful respite from the chaos outside.
Finally, towards the west of San José in Paseo Colon, two relatively new coffee shops are charting a fusion of two worlds that go so well together: good coffee and design. Momo Café provides a minimalist setting, filled with great playlists and collaborations with artists and designers, which include monthly pop-up shops where customers can find a large range of local design while they drink an iced latte, cortado, or cold brew. A bit closer to La Sabana Park, Cuero Papel & Tijera Café combines coffee and design, with a specialty coffee shop that is also a home to beautiful leather products, situated in a scene filled with gardens and delicious desserts.
Visitors to San José or Costa Rica can explore ICAFE’s new platform, De Café En Café,[3] which offers a listing of Costa Rican coffee shops offering Costa Rican coffee, filterable by characteristics (pet friendly, vegan, brewing methods, etc.).
Experiencing Costa Rican coffee is great by itself, but experiencing Costa Rican coffee while immersed in the culture and the people that make Costa Rica so pura vida is beyond amazing. So next time you’re in San José and go inside a coffee shop, order a cafecito and be surprised by the experience you’ll have. ◇
MARÍA PAZ LOBO ZELEDÓN works in project management in coffee sustainability focused on climate change, technology, farmer well-being, and youth.
We hope you are as excited as we are about the release of 25, Issue 16. Both the print edition and the availability of these features across sca.coffee/news wouldn’t have been possible without our generous underwriting sponsors for this issue: Pacific Barista Series, BWT water+more, and Brewista. Thank you so much for your support! Learn more about our underwriters here.