Costa Rica Santa Lucia Patio Helsar
caramelo, mandarina, chocolate
Twelve years ago, Ricardo Pérez Barrantes and the brothers Marvin and Felipe Rodriguez, opened the micro mill in Llano Bonito de Naranjo so they could provide full traceability and highest quality processing for their own coffee crops. Today, the Helsar micro mill is well known in the specialty coffee world for its sustainable practices. Fertilizer is made on site from the coffee cherry pulp combined with molasses, mined zinc, boron, and other minerals.
The coffee from Finca Santa Lucia is grown and processed by Don Ricardo and his daughter Mariana. He has a great understanding of the effects of the drying process on his coffees. His willingness to work closely with us on this special processing project coupled with his skill as a grower allows us to showcase this unique coffee from Finca Santa Lucia that was sun dried on the patio in the Helsar Micro Mill in Zarcero.
This coffee is an exclusive project that is only available at Tico Coffee Roasters.
Origin
Grower: Ricardo Pérez Barrantes & Mariana Pérez
Farm: Finca Santa Lucia at Helsar de Zarcero Micro Mill
Country: Costa Rica
Region: West Valley
Varietal: Caturra & Catuai
Altitude: 1650-1800 meters
Processing Method: Natural & sun dried on patio at Helsar de Zarcero Micro Mill
Profile
Roast Level: Medium Roast 
The Cup: The balanced coffee has soft flavors of vanilla and chocolate in the cup. Roasted peanuts and concord grapes flavors smoothen the experience. A hint of bittersweet chocolate shines through at the end for a long lasting finish.
Cup profile: vanilla and chocolate flavors combined with roasted nuts and concord grape
Brewing Suggestion
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United StatesI tried several of the excellent selection that Tico offers and I'm in love with the Santa Lucia Patio Helsar. At first I was buying ground, but now I'm grinding my own so it's a fresh as possible. I appreciate that Tico allows you to customize how you want your coffee prepared. i'm fortunate to live in Campbell so I just drive by and pick up, with a friendly hello to Thomas. Freshly roasted and brewed coffee is so healthy for you, especially without sugary syrups, processed milks, and other non-nutritious stuff the big coffee chains serve up in their coffees. You can't find this qualify of coffee in the store or anywhere else in the Bay Area, so why wouldn't you buy from them?
United States United StatesI found that the Sumatra coffee tasted much different than Latin American types (from Costa Rica and Brazil). I found that the Sumatra coffee was more citrus flavored and heavier, so I enjoyed the Santa Lucia more. Santa Lucia coffee was lighter, closer to cocoa or nutty taste. Having said that, ordering the coffee couldn't be easier. I can choose quickly online, order immediately, and Tomas usually has my order available the next day for convenient pickup at their location in Campbell (near my home). I recommend trying several of their blends from around the world - to help you find your happy "coffee" place/source.