HOT ! Costa Rica - Ricardo Hernandez Naranjo - Natural

Founded in 2000 during a coffee crisis, La Candelilla became one of the first micromills in Tarrazú, built not by corporations, but by seven smallholder farmers who believed they could protect their quality and future by taking processing into their own hands. It was a bold move at the time. Instead of selling cherry to large mills, they created their own “mini beneficio,” sharing ownership and responsibility.

This particular lot comes from one of the founders, Ricardo Hernandez Naranjo. With over three decades of farming experience, and 10 years consulting for mills across Central America and even Africa, Don Ricardo brings both field knowledge and processing expertise to his work. His dedication to specialty coffee is rooted in years of studying varieties and refining processing methods for specific flavor outcomes.

Grown in rich red-clay ultisol soils, his Typica trees produce elegant structure and clarity in the cup. The natural process highlights balance, transparency, and the classic refinement that Tarrazú is known for. This coffee features the Geisha varietal, one of the most celebrated coffee varieties in the world, known for its intensely aromatic and elegant cup profile. Originally from Ethiopia, Geisha gained global recognition through Panama, where it became synonymous with ultra-high-end specialty coffee. In the cup, expect bright, expressive notes of passionfruit, blood orange, and guava candy.