{"product_id":"costa-rica-arbar-la-isla-1","title":"Costa Rica: ARBAR - La Isla","description":"\u003ch1\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCosta Rica: Arbar - La Isla\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCrisp green fruit flavours begin with lime marmalade before white grape cuts through and a gentle gooseberry on the aftertaste wraps things up with a crisp but sweet finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArbar was the first coffee farm that our Green Buyer Roland ever visited. In many ways it is characteristic of everything we’ve ever tried to do with coffee buying and is at the heart of what we’ve always been about. The lot we have here for you is a Honey Process Caturra and Catuai blend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eA Revolution In Traceability\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Arbar mill is located in Costa Rica’s West Valley, near Lourdes de Naranjo, at an elevation of 1,600 metres above sea level. Owned by Carlos and Maria, the name Arbar is a blend of Carlos ARrieta and Maria BARboza. When they first inherited the coffee farm, it wasn’t really making them any money. At that time, almost all Costa Rican coffee was sold to large cooperatives for processing. You could buy regional lots such as Tarrazú, but there was little traceability and not much incentive for individual producers to achieve exceptional results, as their work would be batched together with everyone else’s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 2010s, Costa Rica saw the \"micromill revolution\", where various producers realised that building their own mills could enable them to process their own coffee and gain recognition for their hard work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eA Lucky Introduction\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe road that Arbar is situated along is well known among exporters and buyers as it’s a checklist of Cup of Excellence-winning farms and their award-winning coffees. On that road is Vista Al Valle (owned by Oldemar Arrieta Lobo, Carlos’s cousin), Herbazu (owned by Tonio Barrantes Zuñiga, Carlos’s neighbour), and a bit further down is Sumava (owned by Francisco Mena, farmer, Cup of Excellence winner, and our exporter). All amazing farms that we buy delicious coffee from on repeat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCarlos and Maria saw the success that other local farms were having from processing their own coffee and thought, \"Hey, maybe we should try something.\" We were lucky enough to find their coffee early and started buying it right away because, as it turned out, their hunch was correct. It’s delicious.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInitially we bought it without really knowing much about where it was coming from. Francisco had introduced us and essentially said, \"Hey, do you like this coffee?\" We said, \"Yes!\" He said, \"Great, here’s the producers.\" And that was that. The first year we bought it, it was simply called Carlos Arrieta because they hadn’t yet decided on a name for their mill. The following year it became Arbar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003ePura Vida\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoland first visited Arbar in 2015, the year he participated on the Costa Rica Cup of Excellence jury, and it remains one of the most memorable experiences of his life. On that first trip he didn’t yet speak any Spanish and was accompanied by the lovely Wayner from \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/waynerjimenez?igsh=OWszeXJocTMyemdk\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eExclusive Coffees\u003c\/a\u003e, who at that point didn’t speak much English. Carlos and Maria both only speak Spanish, so communication was a challenge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey bridged that gap almost immediately. Before any introductions, Carlos gave Roland a huge hug and said, \"Welcome. You’re one of us, this is your home now.\" He was shown around the farms, sat at the head of the table for dinner, and learned a few Spanish phrases. The most important, of course, was \"Pura Vida!\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLiterally translating to \"pure life\", it’s the ultimate Costa Rican catch-all phrase. How are you? Pura Vida. Had a bad day? Pura Vida. It’s a wonderfully upbeat phrase that can be used for almost anything and perfectly captures the spirit of Costa Rica.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eLooking To The Future\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe started buying from Arbar in 2013 and they have produced amazing Costa Rican coffee for us ever since. Each year they have steadily moved forward, never overdoing things or moving too quickly. They started planting new varietals and we’ve now enjoyed Villa Sarchi, Caturra, Catuai, Geisha, Kenya, and other experimental lots from the farm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey’ve also got small amounts of Ethiopian Landrace coffee and several other trial plantings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStarting with their first two farms, Manantial and Oasis, they have since added La Isla, owned by Maria’s niece, and Pedro, a farm they purchased after the previous owner passed away and named in his honour. It’s been wonderful to see that progression.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoland’s favourite example of the impact of these developments is Esteban, the eldest of the four Arrieta-Barboza children: Yessica, Karen, Esteban, and Jose Ignacio (Nacho). When Roland first met him, he was working in the cattle industry. It’s not unusual to see children move away from coffee farming because there often isn’t enough money in it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA few years later, Esteban started working at the nearby Sumava mill and excelled. He then moved on to work for an exporter and today works for Exclusive, our exporting partner. He has even purchased some land of his own right next to Oasis. Seeing Esteban choose a future in specialty coffee is a powerful reminder that paying fair prices can create opportunities for the next generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eGood People Make Good Coffee\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen we first started buying Costa Rican coffee from Arbar, we took every bean they produced. Today they are far more efficient and produce a much larger crop, so while we no longer buy all of it, we still purchase a significant proportion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat reality is incredibly satisfying for us to see, and spending time with the family remains precious and personal. It reminds us how far relationships can progress when producers are paid fairly for their coffee. That’s all we’re doing, paying them what they deserve and showing up year after year. It’s wonderful to see them continue to thrive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaria and Carlos have also expanded into tourism, running coffee tours on the farms, and have become largely self-sufficient. They keep goats, chickens, and fish while striving to be as self-reliant as possible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe family are deeply involved in their local community. On a recent visit, Paul (our Head Roaster in New Zealand) and Roland attended a local rodeo fair, a major event in the rural agricultural community. Sadly, there are no photos of Roland falling off anything.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn that same trip, while sharing coffee outside the house, the local firefighters stopped by to buy coffee from Maria, who roasts her own coffee in a small roastery behind the house. As she roasted, they shared a coffee and a chat before heading back to work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was a lovely snapshot of rural life and community spirit. Everyone at Arbar is genuinely woven into the fabric of their community and they remain some of the loveliest people we know. It’s a constant reminder of why maintaining these relationships matters so much.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTraceability\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCountry:\u003c\/strong\u003e Costa Rica\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e Western Valley\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lourdes de Naranjo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMicromill:\u003c\/strong\u003e ARBAR\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFarm:\u003c\/strong\u003e La Isla\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProducer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Carlos Arrieta \u0026amp; Family\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAltitude:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1,600 m.a.s.l.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVarietal:\u003c\/strong\u003e Caturra \u0026amp; Catuai\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProcess:\u003c\/strong\u003e Honey\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCupping Scores\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCupping Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lime Marmalade, White Grape, Gooseberry\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCup of Excellence Cupping Scores\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClean Cup:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7\/8\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSweetness:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6.5\/8\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAcidity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7\/8\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMouthfeel:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6\/8\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlavour:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6.5\/8\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAftertaste:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6\/8\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBalance:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6\/8\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOverall:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6.5\/8\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCorrection:\u003c\/strong\u003e +36\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTotal:\u003c\/strong\u003e 87.5\/100\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you'd like to find out more about how we score coffees, make sure to read our blog post \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ozonecoffee.co.uk\/blogs\/the-word\/what-do-coffee-cupping-scores-actually-mean\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhat Do Coffee Cupping Scores Actually Mean?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRoasting Information\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMedium\u003c\/strong\u003e - Keep this nice and steady and aim for midway through development, keeping the coffee’s flavours crisp, clean, and bright.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Costa Rica","offers":[{"title":"Beans \/ 220g","offer_id":56457124446593,"sku":"C22 220B","price":11.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Beans \/ 500g","offer_id":56457124479361,"sku":"C22 500B","price":24.2,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Beans \/ 1kg","offer_id":56457124512129,"sku":"C22 1B","price":42.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Espresso \/ 220g","offer_id":56457124544897,"sku":"C22 220E","price":11.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Espresso \/ 500g","offer_id":56457124577665,"sku":"C22 500E","price":24.2,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Espresso \/ 1kg","offer_id":56457124610433,"sku":"C22 1E","price":42.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Fine Filter \/ 220g","offer_id":56457124643201,"sku":"C22 220FF","price":11.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Fine Filter \/ 500g","offer_id":56457124675969,"sku":"C22 500FF","price":24.2,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Fine Filter \/ 1kg","offer_id":56457124708737,"sku":"C22 1FF","price":42.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Medium Filter \/ 220g","offer_id":56457124741505,"sku":"C22 220MF","price":11.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Medium Filter \/ 500g","offer_id":56457124774273,"sku":"C22 500MF","price":24.2,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Medium Filter \/ 1kg","offer_id":56457124807041,"sku":"C22 1MF","price":42.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Coarse Filter \/ 220g","offer_id":56457124839809,"sku":"C22 220CF","price":11.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Coarse Filter \/ 500g","offer_id":56457124872577,"sku":"C22 500CF","price":24.2,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for Coarse Filter \/ 1kg","offer_id":56457124905345,"sku":"C22 1CF","price":42.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for French Press \/ 220g","offer_id":56457124938113,"sku":"C22 220P","price":11.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for French Press \/ 500g","offer_id":56457124970881,"sku":"C22 500P","price":24.2,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ground for French Press \/ 1kg","offer_id":56457125003649,"sku":"C22 1P","price":42.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Green Unroasted \/ 220g","offer_id":56457125036417,"sku":"C22 220GB","price":9.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Green Unroasted \/ 1kg","offer_id":56457125069185,"sku":"C22 1GB","price":35.2,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0023\/1572\/files\/Ozone_Coffee_Square_2026_CRI_ARBAR_La_Isla.png?v=1793272842","url":"https:\/\/ozonecoffee.co.uk\/products\/costa-rica-arbar-la-isla-1","provider":"Ozone Coffee UK","version":"1.0","type":"link"}