A TRADITION OF OVER 100 YEARS PROVIDING HIGHEST
QUALITY COSTA RICAN COFFEE
   

 

HACIENDA AQUIARES,
a coffee farm established by British farmers in the late nineteenth century, was one of the first estates to produce and export the now famous high-quality Costa Rican coffee. For the past 32 years, the finca has been owned and managed by three closely linked families.

Location
Hacienda Aquiares covers a total area of over 2,265 acres (917
hectares). Of these, 1,667 acres (675 hectares) are planted with
coffee, mixed with native shade trees, while 381 acres (150 hectares) are protected natural forest. Hacienda Aquiares, the largest coffee farm in Costa Rica, lies on the beautiful and fertile slopes of the Turrialba Volcano, and is nestled between the Aquiares and Turrialba Rivers. Indeed, Aquiares is the indigenous word for “between rivers”.

Another river, the Jesus Maria, flows through the farm, and at one
point plunges over a 99-foot high waterfall. Though one can easily
imagine oneself in a remote and paradisiacal setting, Aquiares is just four and a half miles north of the city of Turrialba in the province of Cartago, and is only one and one half hours by road from San Jose, the capital.

Agricultural Characteristics  
Aquiares produces only high quality Arabica coffee, virtually all of the Caturra variety, at altitudes beginning at 2,690 feet (820 meters) and rising to 4,265 feet (1,300 meters) above sea level.The coffee trees are planted along elevation contours to minimize erosion. They are shaded by trees of numerous indigenous species that allow the farm to harmonize with the natural flora and fauna of the region. In recent years, the farm has produced an average of 15,000 bags of 69 kilos. Of this, fully 95% is exported to the gourmet markets in North America, Europe and Japan, and 5% is sold locally.

Coffee Processing Facility (Beneficio)

Aquiares has its own coffee processing facility, the beneficio. This processes
only Aquiares coffee, allowing for excellent quality control.The beneficio was
the first in the country to be registered with the Costa Rican Coffee Institute
(ICAFE). The facility now allows extremely careful and closely monitored
cleaning and drying of the red beans.

Aquiares controls the
quality of its coffee from the
plant to the bag

Processing of the Coffee Berry in the Beneficio: From Cherry to Bag
Pulping with machines that remove the pulp by means of friction. Washing in fermentation tanks to remove the
mucilage that covers the de-hulled bean.
Pre-drying and drying to lower the humidity of the coffee to 12%.This process is done in ovens fueled by coffee wood (leña) obtained from the renovated coffee plantation.
Storing in silos where the beans rest for several weeks.
Peeling to remove the skin or parchment (pergamino).
Screening through suction to eliminate
impurities.
Sorting by size with screens. Sorting by density with vibrating tables. Sorting electronically to eliminate the beans that do not have the appropriate color.



Aquiares produces four qualities
of washed Arabica coffee for export
   
1) Aquiares Estate: This is the best coffee of the Atlantic region of Costa Rica. It is selected only from the high altitude section of the farm, over 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) above sea level, and from the middle of the harvesting season (November to January). The beans are hard, heavy and quite big (90% over screen size 16), without defects. Aquiares reliably produces about 7,000 bags of 69 kilo of this quality each year.

2) Aquiares European Preparation:
This is selected from coffee picked throughout the entire farm, from October to February. The beans have good hardness, weight and large size (85% over screen size 16) with less than 1% defects. Aquiares produces about 3,000 bags of this quality yearly.

3) Aquiares American Preparation:
This coffee is selected from beans picked from the entire farm throughout the harvest. The beans have good hardness and weight, and are more normal in size, still with few defects. Aquiares produces about 2,500 bags of this quality yearly.



4) Aquiares Seconds: This is coffee picked through the entire harvest and from the whole farm, with regular hardness, weight and size and some defects. Aquiares produces about 1,750 bags of this quality yearly.
 

Technical characteristics of the coffee  
Type: Washed Arabic coffee.
Denomination: SHB (Strictly Hard Bean)-
Zona Norte.

An analysis made in Switzerland in 2002
obtained the followings results:

- Weight lost after roasting = 16.4%
- Bean size = large and extra large.
- Color = green blue.
- Preparation = excellent.
- Roast = fine
- Cup test = very good body, very good light acidity, very good aromatic flavor.
- Defects in 7 cups = clean uniform cups, no defects found.


Certifications  
Hacienda Aquiares has been certified by the Rainforest Alliance. This ecolabel guarantees that the coffee was grown on a farm that meets demanding social and environmental standards as verified by experienced inspectors.The standards ensure that forest are protected, rivers, soils and wildlife conserved, and workers treated with respect, paid fairly, properly equipped and given access to education and medical care. Aquiares is the third largest coffee farm in the world to receive this important seal of approval. Aquiares obtained this certification with an outstanding score of 955 points out of possible 1,000.

Aquiares has also obtained the “Green Seal” from the Foundation for the Development of the Central Volcanic Range (FUNDECOR), for its management of the forests along the Turrialba and Aquiares Rivers. FUNDECOR is certified by SGS (Societé Générale de Surveillance), which is the largest inspection agency in the world.

The Community of Aquiares
he community of Aquiares is located in the middle of the farm.With a population of 1,500 people, this small village has long maintained a close relationship with the management of Hacienda Aquiares, for employment as well as cultural and economical development. Over the last 32 years, Hacienda Aquiares has deeded to the community land for the school, a day-care center and early childhood cafeteria, and several sports fields and other recreational areas.

Several years ago, Hacienda Aquiares began selling additional plots of land to the long time residents of the town for new house construction, in order to accommodate the desire of those who grew up in Aquiares to raise their families there. Today, virtually everyone in the community of Aquiares owns their own home, greatly enhancing the stability of the community.

The Aquiares church, built in 1925, is an architectural and historic jewel in the center of the village. Visible from slopes on all sides of the farm, it is a welcoming landmark. Its unusual pressed metal walls, steeple clock and stained glass windows were all imported from Germany by the founders of the hacienda. In 1997 the Ministry of Culture of Costa Rica declared the building a National Architectural Historic Monument.






In Aquiares, one breathes fresh air and admires the natural beauty in all directions. The trees are home to birds and butterflies, orchids, epiphytes and bromeliads. Over 50 miles of natural roads facilitate the farming of coffee and also offer excellent routes for hiking between rivers and mountains.


Address:
CAFETALERA AQUIARES, S.A.
PO.Box. 362-7150
Turrialba, Costa Rica
Tel.: (506) 556-0011
Fax: (506) 556-4170
cafeaquiares@racsa.co.cr
Contacts:
Alfonso Robelo
President

Fabio Zamora
General Manager