It’s been a long time since I’ve travelled internationally and so I forgot how….uh…..fun it could be.
Why Costa Rica? Why now? You may ask why….I ask…Why not? But really, this is an opportunity to go along with my bean broker, Cafe Imports, to visit coffee Fincas, experience cuppings, see the harvesting and processing of the cherries and garner a greater understanding of the bean itself.
This is important as a roaster as a greater understanding of the bean, how it’s been grown and processed, means that I can work on roast profiles that try to bring out the best they have to offer.
Side note – pretty cool watching the Super Bowl in a bar in Costa. I’ve been to SB parties in Maryland and Va…..but not Costa!
But back to the fun!
Got in and, of course no one there to meet me at the airport. My cell phone doesn’t work here. Ahhh..,…now I remember the joys of international travel. all these cab drivers grabbing for my bag…finally, as I was looking at a pay phone trying to figure out how to use it to call the local contact, one of the drivers came up and dialed the local number for me on his cell (how nice!). got in touch with Piero, our contact, who told me that I was to take the Best Western shuttle. O.K.. I don’t think I knew that, but you just roll with it, you know? That’s what makes it fun!
I Got to the hotel (slash Casino…) and asked the front desk where I could grab a quick bite….let’s see….Denny’s, Subway…ahhh…local fare
So I walked down the street to a local grocery store and played “What is that?” Got what turned out to be potato chips and little chocolate rolled up cookies, some water and a coke
Lunch of champions!
Getting ready to go down and meet with the rest of the group. I’m excited to meet up with all these “coffee folk” and trade stories.
Tomorrow’s agenda has us going to an Experimental Farm and Micro Mill. Really looking forward to that.
Side note #2 – 49ers are GIVING the game away!
