Costa Rican Coffee Vs. Colombian Coffee: Who Wins the Coffee Battle?

As a self-proclaimed coffee expert, I’m always on the hunt for the best Coffee. Its quality is dependent on its source. For that reason, I’m always keen on where my daily cup comes from. I’ve tried several types, ranging from Sub-Saharan Africa to Asia, but Coffee from Latin America is always a favorite. Let us have look at how Coffee from Colombia and Costa Rica fare. I had a thorough test drive, so rest assured, my findings are sound.

What are the differences between Costa Rican Coffee Vs. Colombian Coffee?

Features	Costa Rican Coffee	Colombian Coffee
What It’s Made Of (Ingredients)	Costa Rican Coffee is made of 100% Arabica coffee beans	Colombian Coffee can be made from either Arabica or Robusta coffee beans
Taste Profile	The flavor profile of Costa Rican Coffee is acidic, sweet, rich, and full-bodied.	The flavor profile of Colombian Coffee tastes bitter and nutty and not as refined.
Caffeine Content	It is higher in caffeine levels, with approximately 92mg in one shot of espresso.	Contains less caffeine, with 30-50mg in a shot of espresso
Availability/Accessibility	Costa Rican Coffee is not as readily available	It is widely available in the market to coffee drinkers
Roast Level	Costa Rican coffee beans are generally medium or medium-dark roast	Colombian Coffee typically has a medium to dark roast

Costa Rican Coffee Vs. Colombian Coffee – How They Compare

What It’s Made Of (Ingredients)

Colombian Coffee is typically made of Arabica coffee beans and may occasionally come from Robusta beans. Costa Rican Coffee, on the other hand, is guaranteed to be made of 100% Arabica coffee beans. An interesting fact is that Costa Rica is the only country in the world that has laws barring the cultivation of Robusta coffee or any other type other than Arabica. The country deems Arabica the highest quality, so you can say that Costa Rica has laws against bad Coffee. Generally, Arabica coffee is considered to be the best grade of Coffee. The taste, caffeine level, creaminess, and price points of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans are very different.

Costa Rican Coffee wins in this category as it will always guarantee pure, high-quality Arabica coffee, while Colombia produces both Arabica and Robusta coffee.

Taste Profile

When it comes to taste, Costa Rican Coffee is sweet and slightly acidic. It has been likened to berries and fruits. This also translates into its aroma when brewed. Some of the typical notes associated with Coffee from Costa Rica include honey, vanilla, citrus, and molasses. Its palate is also very full-bodied and rich. Costa Rican Coffee’s flavor profile can be attributed to the high altitudes it is cultivated in. Colombian Coffee exhibits chocolatey, nutty, floral, and herbal flavor notes. It is also slightly more bitter than Costa Rican Coffee but is less acidic than its counterpart. If it is of the Robusta variety, its texture and taste may not be as refined, but it will be creamier. It is also not as full-bodied as Costa Rican Coffee.

From the taste test, it is clear that Costa Rican Coffee is better as it has a more robust flavor profile that is well-balanced.

Caffeine Content

Another difference comes between these two coffees when we look at the caffeine content of each. Costa Rican Coffee is significantly higher in caffeine than Colombian Coffee. It is one of the most caffeinated coffees in the world. In one shot of Costa Rican espresso, there are about 92mg of caffeine. Although there is a rampant myth out there that Colombian Coffee is stronger in caffeine than regular Coffee, it is one of the weaker variations. One shot of Colombian espresso coffee contains 30-50mg of caffeine. Whether more caffeine is better is a matter of personal preference, but we prefer moderate caffeine levels in our Coffee.

We believe that Costa Rican Coffee wins this round. It has a higher level of caffeine per gram. Coffee that can deliver the caffeine punch we’re looking for is always appreciated.

Availability/Accessibility

Next, when comparing coffees, you must look at availability. We wouldn’t want a coffee that is perfect but can’t be found. In this case, Colombian Coffee is more readily available. Colombia is one of the most famous coffee-producing countries and churns out millions of pounds of Coffee a year both for domestic consumption and exportation. Unlike Colombian Coffee, Costa Rican Coffee is a bit scarcer. This is for a few reasons. First, Costa Rica is a relatively small country making the area available for cultivation limited. Secondly, since the country only produces 100% Arabica exclusively, this calls for specific environmental conditions such as rich soil, which is not available all year round. Finally, Costa Rican coffee farmers have meticulous harvesting and processing steps when it comes to their produce. It is mainly done manually. Not only do all these factors make Costa Rican Coffee more expensive but also less available.

Colombian Coffee wins in this category for being readily accessible in the market. It is available in plenty and is generally more affordable.

Roast Level

Both Colombian and Costa Rican Coffee are commonly medium roast or dark roast. Medium roast allows complex yet subtle flavors of coffee beans to come through while making the flavors of the beans balanced. Roasting your beans moderately also helps control acidity levels in them. This is why the most popular roast level for Coffee is medium. Also, some of the beans’ oils will be retained with this process. Dark roast, on the other hand, results in low acidity and bold flavors. The process will release the oils of the beans completely and make them caramelize. The beans’ sweetness and richness will also come out more profoundly. The Coffee does, however, lose its original flavor due to exposure to high temperatures and pressure during the roasting process.

It is a draw in this category as both are usually medium to dark roasts. There is not much difference in the preferred roast level of Colombian and Costa Rican Coffee.

Costa Rican Coffee Vs. Colombian Coffee – A Comparison Overview

Costa Rican Coffee Overview

Costa Rica is the fourteenth largest coffee-growing country in the world and began cultivating the crop in 1779 when Cuban traders introduced it. Costa Rican Coffee is considered a top-notch coffee variation that is extracted from the Caturra or Catuai coffee plant. It is commonly grown in the Tarrazu, Heredia, Alajuela, West Central Valley, and North Central areas of Costa Rica in high altitudes ranging from 1200 to 1800 meters above sea level. It is only harvested between December and February. It is manually washed and dried. Costa Rican Coffee is always 100% Arabica coffee. In terms of flavor, Costa Rican Coffee has a sweet, fruity, and acidic profile. It also has citrus and tropical fruit notes. Costa Rican Coffee is full-bodied. Major coffee companies around the world buy Costa Rican Coffee. Some include Starbucks, Costa, and Café Britt.

Colombian Coffee Overview

Colombia is one of the world’s biggest producers of Coffee and grows about 10% of all the Coffee on the globe. Coffee was first introduced to Colombia in the 17^th century and has become one of the country’s leading exports ever since. Colombian Coffee can come from the Caturra, Tabi, Maragogipe, or Catillo coffee plants and mainly grows in Medellin, Armenia, and Manizales. The Coffee is usually Arabica (around 70%), and the rest is Robusta (the remaining 30%). Colombian Coffee typically grows in altitudes between 1200 and 2000 meters above sea level. It is harvested between September and December. It is usually sun-dried. In terms of flavor, it is nutty, deep, and cocoa-tasting. It is medium-bodied and does not have a robust texture on the palate.

Final Verdict: So, Which Is Better? – Costa Rican Coffee Vs. Colombian Coffee

Of the two coffees, Costa Rican Coffee is the best Coffee. This Coffee is the better of the two options because it is of high quality. Customers can bet that this Coffee will always be 100% Arabica. It is also great tasting. Its flavor is sweet, well-balanced, rich, and full-bodied. Most people will find it enjoyable, even if they are new coffee drinkers. For those reasons, we believe Costa Rican Coffee is superior.

FAQ Section

Which is more affordable between Costa Rican Coffee and Colombian Coffee?

In general, Colombian Coffee is more affordable than Costa Rican Coffee because Costa Rican Coffee is guaranteed to have the highest quality and is therefore more expensive.

Is Costa Rican Coffee more popular than Colombian Coffee?

In terms of preference, Costa Rican Coffee is more popular than Colombian Coffee as it is regarded as being some of the world’s best quality. But in terms of availability, Colombian Coffee is consumed by more people around the world because the country is a major exporter of Coffee.

Which came first Costa Rican Coffee or Colombian Coffee?

Coffee was first grown in Costa Rica by Cuban traders in 1779. Colombia began growing Coffee in 1790, so we can conclude that they began cultivating the plant around the same time.