5 - La Bandera - Costa Rica 2025 (Dry)

La Bandera farm was originally acquired nearly 200 years ago through a purchase made by my great-great-grandfather. Over time, it was passed down through generations, and today we are the second generation producing coffee on this land.
When we were children, especially during the summer, it was our duty to help our father pick coffee. With the money we saved, we contributed to household needs and also bought our school supplies.
For many years, 30% of the farm was planted with the Typica variety. However, over time, we introduced new varieties, creating several distinct micro-lots within the same farm—one of them being the renowned Geisha variety. We have our own nursery, which allows us to improve the quality of each plantation year after year.
At the mill, every family member plays an important role in quality control. Some work in the pulping area, while others are in charge of drying. The coffee harvest is carried out by seasonal workers from Panama, and we attribute a large part of our coffee’s quality to their careful hand-picking.
This particular lot benefits from sunlight that reaches the farm early in the morning and lasts all day, helping the cherries to ripen evenly and fully. The presence of fruit trees not only provides shade for the workers during the harvest but also helps prevent soil erosion during the rainy season, especially since our farm is located on steep terrain in the highlands of Los Santos.
We are very proud and grateful to be winners of the Cup of Excellence Costa Rica once again this year. We hope to continue producing some of the best coffee in the country.