7 Best Costa Rican Coffee Beans of 2026

This bright, honey-sweet Costa Rican roast from Good As Gold Coffee Roasters delivers a vibrant citrus punch and a smooth dark chocolate finish that sings with clarity. Crafted from Tarrazu-grown beans—renowned for their high-altitude terroir—this small-batch medium roast captures the essence of what makes Costa Rican coffee so sought after: clean acidity, complex sweetness, and balanced body. It’s a standout for pour-over lovers who crave lively, nuanced flavor without overwhelming bitterness or roastiness.

In real-world brewing, it shines in pour-over and drip methods, where its crisp acidity and floral honey notes unfold beautifully. The 12oz packaging ensures freshness, especially since it’s roasted to order in a custom air roaster, which preserves delicate flavor compounds. Whether you’re brewing at home or fueling a quiet morning ritual, this coffee maintains consistent brightness and depth across multiple batches. It doesn’t overpower milk, making it surprisingly versatile for lattes—though purists will want to sip it black to appreciate its natural complexity.

Compared to heavier, roast-forward options like Café 1820’s dark blend, this Good As Gold selection leans lighter and more transparent, letting the bean’s true character take center stage. It’s not as intense or full-bodied as some premium competitors, but it offers exceptional clarity and value for its price point. Ideal for daily drinkers who want specialty-grade brightness without the boutique price, it’s a smart pick for those stepping into single-origin coffees. It matches flavor sophistication with everyday drinkability better than most in its class.

Allegro’s light-roasted El Volcan is a masterclass in clean, fruit-forward brightness, bursting with mandarin orange zest, panela sweetness, and raw honey depth. Sourced with Rainforest Alliance certification and roasted to preserve its specialty-grade integrity, this bean delivers a crisp, tea-like clarity that’s rare at this price. For drinkers who find medium roasts too heavy or smoky, this is a refreshing revelation—a coffee that feels alive in the cup.

When brewed as a V60 or Chemex, it opens up with layered citrus and cane sugar sweetness, offering a delicate yet expressive profile. The light roast enhances its natural acidity, making it especially vibrant in morning brews. While it lacks the body of darker options, it compensates with exceptional purity and aromatic lift. That said, it can taste a bit thin in French press or espresso, where more body is expected—this is a drip and pour-over specialist.

Against Mt. Comfort’s bulk offering or Café 1820’s bold dark roast, El Volcan trades intensity for elegance, favoring nuance over power. It’s less about chocolate and caramel and more about terroir transparency and sustainable sourcing. Perfect for eco-conscious sippers and light roast loyalists, it proves sustainability and flavor don’t have to be mutually exclusive. It delivers specialty-tier brightness with a conscience-first approach that outshines several pricier peers.

This Fair Trade Certified Tarrazu roast stands tall with a well-balanced cup that blends smooth brightness, subtle chocolate, and volcanic terroir depth. Grown at high altitudes on nutrient-rich soil, these beans develop slowly, yielding a clean, hearty flavor that’s both approachable and complex. What truly sets it apart is its triple certification—Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, and Shade Grown—making it a conscience-driven choice without sacrificing taste.

In testing, it performed consistently across drip, pour-over, and French press, delivering a rounded, medium-bodied cup with a soft citrus lift and a clean finish. The 16-ounce bag offers more value than smaller competitors, and the resealable packaging helps maintain freshness over time. It doesn’t have the intense fruitiness of a peaberry or the bold roastiness of a dark blend, but it’s reliably delicious—a “no wrong way to brew” coffee. The lab-tested mold and mycotoxin screening also adds peace of mind, especially for health-conscious drinkers.

Stacked against Java Planet’s low-acid option, it’s slightly brighter, though not as gut-friendly. Compared to Good As Gold’s version, it’s less vibrant but more ethically robust. Ideal for households that want daily-drinking quality with ethical assurance, it’s a trustworthy, no-fuss performer. It balances social responsibility and flavor integrity better than nearly any other in the lineup.

For bulk buyers who refuse to compromise on quality, Mt. Comfort’s 2.5-pound Costa Rican roast is a game-changer—offering bold, mountain-grown flavor in a massive, resealable bag. Sourced from high-elevation farms, these beans deliver a rich, luscious profile with dark chocolate, citrus, and tropical nut notes that unfold with each brew. The medium roast is expertly calibrated to preserve origin character while adding depth and smoothness, making it ideal for both casual and serious coffee lovers.

In real-world use, it holds up across all brewing methods—from French press to espresso—thanks to its balanced acidity and full body. The large format means fewer purchases and consistent freshness, especially with the resealable kraft bag that locks in aroma. Over weeks of testing, the flavor remained remarkably stable, a testament to both roasting precision and packaging quality. It’s not the most exotic or rare bean here, but it’s unfailingly delicious—a workhorse coffee that never disappoints.

Compared to the smaller 12oz roasts, it offers far better value per ounce, though you’ll need to store it properly to maintain peak freshness. Against Café 1820’s 35oz dark roast, it’s lighter in body but brighter in fruit notes. It’s the perfect pick for families, offices, or anyone who drinks coffee multiple times a day and wants premium quality without daily repurchasing. It combines scale and sophistication in a way few bulk coffees can match.

Java Planet’s low-acid dark roast is a revelation for sensitive stomachs, delivering smooth, bold flavor without the burn. Roasted to emphasize chocolate and caramel sweetness, with a hint of citrus to keep it lively, it’s a rare dark roast that’s both gentle and complex. Sourced from organic, high-altitude farms, every batch is independently tested for mold and heavy metals, giving it a clean, safe profile that’s ideal for health-focused drinkers.

In testing, it brewed a rich, full-bodied cup in both drip and French press, with minimal acidity and no aftertaste. The dark roast brings out deep, toasty notes without tipping into bitterness—a common flaw in gut-friendly coffees. It’s also versatile, working well with milk or black, and holds up in cold brew with a silky mouthfeel. While it lacks the bright fruitiness of lighter Tarrazu roasts, it compensates with comfort and consistency. It’s the go-to for those who’ve had to quit coffee due to acid reflux but still crave real coffee depth.

Next to the Fair Trade Tarrazu or Allegro’s light roast, it’s darker and smoother, trading brightness for digestibility. Compared to Café 1820’s intense dark roast, it’s less aggressive, making it more accessible. It’s the top choice for acid-sensitive drinkers who refuse to settle for bland or artificial-tasting alternatives. It proves stomach-friendly doesn’t mean flavor-lite—delivering smooth richness with unmatched safety standards.

Peaberry beans are nature’s rare twist—a single, oval bean per cherry that packs intense, concentrated flavor—and this Tres Rios estate-grown roast delivers on that promise with vibrant fruit and citrus intensity. Grown shade-grown and Rainforest Certified, it offers a bright, sweet, and balanced cup that’s both exotic and approachable. The medium roast highlights its natural complexity, letting the berry-like acidity and honeyed sweetness shine without roast interference.

In practice, it’s a showstopper in pour-over and siphon brewing, where its layered fruit notes and crisp finish unfold beautifully. The 16-ounce bag provides a generous amount for specialty coffee lovers, and the fresh-roasted, sealed packaging ensures peak flavor. It’s not the most body-rich option—those seeking heavy mouthfeel may find it light on the palate—but its flavor intensity more than compensates. It’s a coffee for special moments, not just morning fuel.

Next to standard Tarrazu beans, it’s more dynamic and concentrated, with a juicier profile than even Allegro’s light roast. Compared to Mt. Comfort’s bulk option, it’s rarer and more expressive, though less practical for daily use. It’s the pick for flavor adventurers and connoisseurs who want to experience Costa Rica’s most unique bean. It trades everyday value for unforgettable taste, offering distinctive character that stands apart from the crowd.

Café 1820’s dark roast blend is bold, refined, and unapologetically intense—a full-bodied powerhouse with fruity undertones, chocolate depth, and a fine, balancing bitterness. Sourced from three top Costa Rican zones and grown over 1,100 meters above sea level, it’s a high-altitude triumph that delivers rich aroma, deep color, and exceptional body in every cup. This is not a subtle coffee—it’s designed to command attention, with a roast profile that enhances complexity without masking origin character.

In real-world brewing, it excels in French press and espresso, where its thick mouthfeel and lingering finish truly shine. The 35-ounce bag is ideal for heavy users, and the innovative packaging maintains freshness far longer than standard resealable bags. It holds up well with milk, making lattes and cappuccinos deeply satisfying, but it’s best enjoyed black to appreciate its layered bitterness and fruity lift. It’s not for those who prefer light, tea-like clarity—this is dark roast dominance done right.

Against Java Planet’s low-acid option, it’s more aggressive and complex, though less gentle on the stomach. Compared to Mt. Comfort’s bulk roast, it’s darker, more aromatic, and more premium in feel. It’s the best overall choice for those who want maximum flavor impact, large quantity, and origin authenticity in one package. It outperforms in body, aroma, and balance, making it the undisputed king of full-flavored Costa Rican coffee.