El Ángel, Costa Rica

When we first tasted the coffee from the daughter and father team of Alejandra and Arturo Chacón, we were struck by the completeness of the package. The coffee was terrifically sweet and balanced but also had an interesting, if not complex, acidity. Since that first taste in 2009, we’ve established quite a bond with the Chacón family, to the point that Ritual buys all of the coffee that they produce from their three farms. The Chacón family processes all of their coffee in a small micro-mill adjoining their home that they call El Ángel. In addition to purchasing an aqua-pulper, the family has also built drying tables and a small bodega to safely store the coffee. Wanting to provide additional support, Ritual began a sponsorship program to help rehabilitate and revitalize the farm. This year, Alejandra made the decision to include a fermentation step on all of her pickings, a step that we have found significant to increasing the overall quality of her coffee. Additionally, with the profits made from previous harvests, she replanted the farm’s highest, most coveted area, which will ensure her success in years to come.