Costa Rica Monte Crisol West Valley

Coming from the famous West Valley region of Costa Rica, this is a high grown coffee with notes of bright lemon zest, sweet cocoa powder and a nutty finish for a very refreshing cup.

Arrival Date: June 3rd, 2016

Acidity & Brightness: Very Bright and Refreshing

Balance & Finish: Slightly Complex with a Nutty Finish

Body & Texture: Light to Medium Body

Flavors: Lemon Zest with notes of Cocoa 

Grade: SHB, High Grown, Medium Bean Size

Certifications: Shade Grown

Processing: Fully washed hand picked and sun dried

Roasting: We like our Costa Rican coffees on the lighter side of medium (City Plus) but if the lemon zest is just too much for you, you can take it into Full City Plus (medium-dark) to take that down a notch. This coffee roasts very evenly.

Recommendation: This is a classic Costa Rican with a sweet twist that builds as you drink. Costa Rican fans will enjoy it, but so will others who enjoy a little complexity with their cup.

Our Review

Produced in the West Valley region of Costa Rica, the Monte Crisol brand has been developed exclusively for Royal Coffee by CoopePalmares, R.L. A blend of shade-grown Caturra and Catuai varieties grown around 1300 meters, Monte Crisol is harvested between November and February, with the flowering taking place in March. The average rainfall is 1800mm per year and the temperature is approximately 23 degrees Celsius.

CoopePalmares is a fully functioning cooperative with around 1350 members, all receiving full benefits. This includes medical services to all associates and their families, financial services for the growers, and economical contribution through Madre Verde Foundation.  CoopePalmares is fully organic certified.

This coffee is fully washed and then dried on large patios in the Costa Rican sun.

Costa Rican coffee is typically bright, lemony, and refreshing.  This Monte Crisol fits well in that profile with a big lemon zest front end, we would even say borderline tart. We also noted a sweet and dry cocoa powder and a quick, somewhat nutty finish. As the coffee cools, the finish will become more pronounced and a bit lingering. It's got a touch more body than most Costa Rican coffees averaging in the light to medium body spectrum which coupled with the bright lemon front end, makes for a delightful and refreshing cup.