Although Central America does not produce a high volume of coffee, several coffee-producing countries are known for producing high-quality coffee. Among them, Costa Rica is rich in natural resources, grows high-quality coffee, and has developed its distinctive honey processing method, which gives the beans full sweetness and rich layers.

Therefore, Costa Rica is home to many well-known coffee estates, such as Hacienda San Isidro Labrador, Mirazu, and others, and many of these estates come from Tarrazu, the country's largest and most famous coffee-producing region. But although other coffee-producing regions are less renowned than Tarrazu, they can also produce high-quality coffee beans, and there are also excellent coffee estates, such as Finca Las Lajas in the Central Valle region.

Finca Las Lajas is located in the Sabanilla area of Alajuela, not far from the capital, and grows coffee at 1300-1650 m at the foot of Poas Volcano. Alajuela is one of the three major sub-regions of the Central Valley producing region and, affected by volcanic ash, has very fertile, mineral-rich soil that is highly suitable for coffee tree growth.

In addition, this is the region of Costa Rica with the most distinctive climate; the area is like spring all year round, with very clear rainy and dry seasons. During the rainy season, total rainfall can reach 3000 mm, the average temperature is 20ºC, and there is ample sunshine.

Finca Las Lajas has more than 80 years of coffee-growing history, and the current estate owner is the third generation, Francisca and Oscar Chacón, a husband and wife who manage it together. In 1995, the estate owner Oscar's father died of cancer, and they suspected that long-term contact with and use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on the farm had worsened his condition. So they began to give up chemical fertilizers, switch to natural, homemade fertilizers, grow coffee under native forest shade, and use natural farming methods that protect the ecological environment. After 5 years of organic farming, in 2000, Finca Las Lajas became the first estate in Costa Rica to obtain organic certification, and the estate has also passed multiple organic certifications including Japan JAS, US USDA and NOP.

This couple has been working hard to improve the flavor expression of the coffee on the estate. Initially, most Costa Rican coffee beans were washed, and this couple began researching and modifying much of the estate's equipment so that it better suited the needs of natural and honey processed coffee. As a result, Hacienda Las Lajas became one of the first estates to begin systematic research into and processing of natural and honey processes.

In addition, the estate owner introduced the Brix meter often used in the wine industry to screen coffee cherries that meet the standard, deciding the optimal harvest time and processing method based on the Brix sugar content, and established his own processing plant to improve the overall coffee quality of the estate.

At present, Hacienda Las Lajas grows many coffee varieties, including Caturra (Caturra), Catuai (Catuai), and Villa Sarchi (Villa Sarchi), and has also introduced varieties such as SL28 and Obata (Obata). The estate has always been committed to environmental protection and sustainable production, and promotes Costa Rican coffee through different processing methods, enhancing its international influence.

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