Coffee

One thing that I have noticed in this country is that coffee is everywhere.  When thinking as a consumer, one can find it everywhere one eats and buys food.  But observing the whole country, coffee products (including the drink) are in every store and rest stop and the plants seem to be a customary mark in the landscape.

The product itself manifests itself in many different products, from coffee, candy, and even liquor.  I have to say that I have not tried any of them except the liquor version, which has an excellent taste, almost better than the United States equivalent of Koolaha.  The coffee that is sold to drink is nearly always from Costa Rica (though I have run into some from surrounding Latin American countries) but is very cheap.  When we have visited an area which is more touristy, I have managed to see some higher grade and priced coffee such some from Cafe Britt which we visited.  I believe this is only due to the fact that less locals shop there, following what learned that many Costa Rican's will not buy expensive coffee, leaving companies having to sell outside the country.

When looking at the coffee being grown around while we travel, whether it is on the Pacific or the Caribbean, coffee is grown everywhere.  The most predominant thing I have noticed is that it generally is grown on hillsides, with very little cover.  What we have learned is that the amount of cover and shade that surround the coffee while growing changes the overall taste of the coffee.  Im guessing though because of the open growing techniques, it is much easier to maintain and grow than the shaded, tree growing.  I have also noticed that size of the growing area is not an issue because they have been in big fields and hillsides to several plants in a fenced in yard of passing houses.  I imagine this is for a personal use, though my host family have explained that they could be used as strictly aesthetic growth around the house.