Drip Bags - Finca Cerro San Luis, Costa Rica (6 pcs)

Cerro San Luis is located in the region of San Luis de Grecia, Alajuela, within the Cordillera Volcánica Central of Costa Rica's Central Valley. The legacy of this estate spans three generations of the Delgado family. Siblings Magali and Alexander Delgado inherited the 45-hectare farm from their father, having spent their youth surrounded by coffee and a deep love for its cultivation. When harvest season arrived around Christmas and schools closed, the entire family would harvest coffee together until March.

Traditionally, farmers sold their cherries to local cooperatives, but this became increasingly unprofitable over time. Alexander realized that to secure a sustainable future, they needed their own mill. The Cerro San Luis Micromill enabled them to control both processing and quality

It didn’t begin with major funding—just a simple structure built by hand with poles and a zinc roof. Eventually, they secured a small loan and a depulper. It was a response to economic hardship, not a premeditated business plan. Yet through this process, they discovered that by focusing on quality, they could achieve better prices and offer more lot variety. Microlots from Costa Rica are typically produced by farmers who operate their own micromills, often yielding fewer than 1,000 bags annually. 

The farm cultivates a remarkable selection of coffee varieties. The Delgado siblings now grow more than ten different types, including Caturra, Red and Orange Bourbon, SL28, Catuai, Villa Sarchi, and Maragogype. While the family’s farms are adjacent, the plots are named separately for lot distinction, and the micromill is located at their home.

Harvesting begins in the morning, with cherries depulped the same afternoon at the wet mill. The farm uses full sun-drying on African beds, both outdoors and in greenhouses, ensuring a slow drying process. Daily turning and moisture checks maintain quality, with drying periods lasting 12 to 16 days to reach the desired moisture content. The beans are stored in a wood-covered cement warehouse and packed in double plastic bags for optimal preservation.

Cerro San Luis has gained recognition in Cup of Excellence competitions and for its meticulous attention to detail across all aspects of production. The team has embraced honey and natural processing methods, which have increased both quality scores and market demand. As they saw improvements in quality through processing, they pursued further education in other fields such as cupping, brewing, and roasting. While some in the farming community doubted whether processing alone could enhance quality, Cerro San Luis believed in the approach—and the results proved them right.