Costa Rica El Vapor Dota Natural AAA EP

Sourcing Details

There is nowhere like Costa Rica when it comes to coffee cooperatives and Cooperativa de Caficultores de Dota R.L (CoopeDota), which was established in 1960, is one of the finest.  It starts with an unmatched commitment to the environment.  CoopeDota has a first of its kind certified carbon-neutral mill, which features hydro-powered energy consumption, water efficient eco-pulpers (also called a demucilager), and mechanical coffee dryers fueled by coffee parchment.

Processing Details

Nearly 1160 producer-members living throughout the cantons of Dota, Tarrazú y León Cortés within the province of San Jose, Costa Rica focus their attention on farm management throughout the year and then deliver their cherry to the CoopeDota mill during the harvest where traceability and quality control are second to none.  This particular lot comes from a group of ten farms above 1800 masl in the micro-region called el Vapor, named after the plumes of water vapor produced when the warm air coming from a local sawmill collided with the cool mountain air.  Coffee cherries are carefully hand sorted and floated to remove less dense coffee beans and then placed on raised beds and gently dried in the sun to 11 percent moisture.  This natural process highlights CoopeDota’s commitment to reduce water use and expertise in precise drying protocols.

Cooperative Activities

CoopeDota has an equally intricate model of income diversification with a profitable agriculture supply store and tourism department dedicated to showing off coffee farms to visitors.  They also roast their own coffee and operate three cafes and a cupper/barista training center.  Their commitment to the environment also extends to the community of Santa Maria de Dota where the cooperative manages trash pickup for the entire town.