Coffee, Cacao, and Connection in Costa Rica

In the U.S., coffee is everywhere. It’s part of the daily rhythm — drive-thru lines, office cups, corner cafés, reusable tumblers clutched like lifelines. I never really thought about where it came from, or what it meant beyond keeping me awake.

That changed in Costa Rica.

Our Evolve Tours guide, Nacho, started talking about coffee one morning as we wound through the mountains toward La Fortuna. He said that coffee wasn’t just a drink here — it was part of the country’s story. It built communities, supported families, and shaped the landscape. When we stopped at a local grocery store later that day, I finally saw what he meant: entire aisles lined with bags of locally roasted beans, each one labeled with the name of a region or a small farm.

Everywhere we went — hotels, tiny roadside cafés, even wildlife sanctuaries — someone was offering coffee. And it wasn’t like the coffee I knew. It was rich, smooth, and somehow alive — no artificial flavors or syrups, just pure, earthy perfection. I bought a few bags to bring home, but I knew nothing in a grocery store back in the States would ever taste the same.

Later that week, we learned about cacao, the heart of chocolate. We visited a small farm where the owners showed us how cacao pods are split open to reveal white, tangy fruit that surrounds the beans. We helped roast and grind the beans by hand, then mixed them with spices and raw sugar to make traditional hot cacao. The smell alone — smoky, sweet, and ancient — was unforgettable.

Standing there, sipping that warm drink while rain fell on the jungle canopy, I realized how deeply connected Costa Ricans are to the land. Coffee and cacao aren’t just products — they’re traditions, livelihoods, and expressions of gratitude for the earth.

Back home, I still drink coffee every morning, but it’s different now. I think about the farmers who grew it, the hands that picked it, and the stories behind every cup.

If this trip taught me anything, it’s to slow down, to taste, and to appreciate the simple things — like a cup of Costa Rican coffee or cacao shared with new friends halfway across the world.

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