Coffee Dreams at Doka Estate, Costa Rica

by Costa Rica Vacation Journals

I woke up early today, excited about my morning tour of Doka Estate, one of the oldest and largest working coffee plantations in the country. A longtime fan of their Tres Generaciones coffee, I was eager to learn more about the source of this caffeinated gold. Coffee has been an integral part of the Costa Rican economy and culture since the early 19th century when it was first planted in the rich volcanic soils of the Central Valley. Having grown up in a strict Maxwell House (with the occasional Folgers), I now appreciate the bold flavors of real café, and Costa Rican coffee is arguably some of the best in the world.

My coffee adventure began with a 40-minute bus ride from Alajuela to La Sabanilla, near the slopes of Poás Volcano. Our bus traveled via the narrow Fraijanes road, winding gently up the mountainside. As we climbed to 4500 feet, past coffee farms and spectacular valley vistas, the plants seemed greener and the air fresher and cooler. The bus dropped me off at the coffee plantation entrance where I boarded the Doka Estate transfer for the remaining one-kilometer journey. The minibus was packed with bags of fresh roasted coffee, bound for souvenir shops across Costa Rica. The smell was so heavenly that words escaped me. I breathed in the heady aroma, ready to begin the day.

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