Christmas Coffee

This year's Christmas coffee is a beaut from Cost Rica! 

We've gone with the fancy green Christmas bags this year and as usual the label can be written on for a more personalised gift. 

We hope you enjoy!

Farm:Finca El Raudal 
Owner: Gustavo Fernandez 
Location: Buena Vista, Central Valley, Costa Rica
Altitude: 1200masl
Varietal: Obata
Process: Natural
Roast: Omni
Notes of: Grapefruit and caramel

We sourced this coffee from Mercanta Coffee Hunters who had the following to share:

Natural processing is one of the oldest coffee processing methods and is known for producing distinctive, fruity cup profiles. Cherries are dried with the fruit still intact around the seed which allows the sugars and compounds form the cherry to influence the final taste during the drying stage. While natural processing can produce very interesting flavor profiles, it also requires careful management throughout the drying process to maintain consistency and preserve quality.
Finca El Raudal, owned by Gustavo Fernandez, is part of CoopeLibertad, a cooperative founded in 1961 in Heredia, Costa Rica. Established with support from the National Bank of Costa Rica, the cooperative was formed by a group of small coffee producers seeking greater economic stability, fairer market access, and long-term support within a challenging agricultural system. Built on principles of collective development, sustainability, and producer cooperation, Coopelibertad continues to play an important role in supporting smallholder coffee farmers across the region. Along coffee production, there exists a range of other agricultural activities in Costa Rica’s Central Valley, including banana production and cattle farming. Finca El Raudal was named after the Spanish expression “a raudales”, which means “in abundance”.
The farm reflects the broader structure of the cooperative, where the average farm size is approximately five hectares. By working collectively through Coopelibertad, producers are able to share resources, strengthen market access, and participate more effectively in the specialty coffee sector.
Over the years, Coopelibertad has developed a strong reputation for both quality and producer support, gaining recognition from national and international coffee buyers. Mercanta has worked with the cooperative for approximately five years, with both organizations continuing to see strong opportunities for long-term collaboration. Central to this partnership is a shared focus on sustainability and the future viability of coffee production. Like many coffee-growing regions in Costa Rica, producers face increasing pressure from competing land use and alternative economic activities, particularly as younger generations often view coffee farming as less financially attractive. In response, many farms, and producers such as Gustavo, are actively investing in renovation and modernization programs. The average age of coffee trees at Finca El Raudal is approximately 15 years, and at least 10% of the plantations are renewed annually using new plants and varieties selected for improved resilience to coffee leaf rust and changing climate conditions.
Annual production averages around 20 bags per hectare, with approximately 80% destined for the specialty coffee market. The principal varieties grown in the region are Catuaí, Obata, San Isidro, and Victoria. These include both traditional cultivars and newer disease-resistant hybrids that have become increasingly important across Central and South America. While Catuaí has historically been valued for its productivity and cup quality, many producers are gradually introducing newer varieties that offer improved resistance to disease while maintaining strong quality potential. Lots are separated according to variety following technical inspections carried out on the farm. Microlots receive additional monitoring and support from Coopelibertad’s agronomic department to ensure consistency and quality throughout production.
Due to changing weather conditions and the importance of environmental stability, CoopeLibertad participates in the NAMA Café Project, led by the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture, which supports low emission and climate-smart coffee production. Through the project, the cooperative has established greenhouse gas emission baselines and implements annual reduction measures across farms and milling operations. Future environmental initiatives include continued participation in NAMA Coffee alongside programs designed to increase tree integration within coffee farms.
The cooperative is also investing in long-term climate resilience initiatives, including the development of an early weather warning system intended to reduce the risk of crop loss. Producers will additionally have access to weather forecasts and recommendations generated through an AI-supported agronomic advisory system.
Alongside its environmental initiatives, Coopelibertad continues to support farming families through social programs such as Casa de Alegría, a childcare center established for the children of seasonal coffee pickers working on member farms. The program was first introduced during the 2025–2026 harvest season as part of the cooperative’s broader community support efforts.

About processing
Coffee cherries are selectively handpicked and sorted before processing. Following harvest, the coffee is transported directly from the farm to the mill, located approximately nine kilometers
away. The coffee undergoes a natural process and is dried on raised African beds over approximately three weeks. During this period, moisture levels and fermentation are carefully monitored to prevent over-fermentation and maintain cup quality and consistency.
Farm fertility is supported through the use of organic fertilizers produced from recycled coffee pulp, alongside synthetic fertilizers applied according to soil analysis results. Any herbicides or
pesticides classified by the World Health Organization as Type 1A “Extremely Hazardous” or Type 1B “Highly Hazardous” are prohibited. All other agricultural inputs comply with Costa Rican
regulations and registration requirements