Rivense Special Fermentation

The story of our friendship with the Ureña family began in January of 2023 when we visited them for the first time. In February of 2024, one year later, we had the opportunity to visit them again. It felt like we were seasoned friends. We continue to be amazed at how willing this family is to joyfully bring us into their day-to-day lives. 

Regulo and his wife Isabella have four sons Ricardo, Mario, Esteban, and Luis as well as a daughter named Tatiana. The three eldest sons work alongside Regulo on the farms and at the mill. With the help and encouragement of his sons, Regulo made a shift from traditional farming practices a little over a decade ago. They made innovations that included acquiring an exportation license and building a wet and dry mill. From nursery to exportation, the Ureña family now oversees every step of the process. 

The Ureñas' use of almost exclusively experimental processing methods while entirely avoiding washed methods sets their coffee apart on the global market. These processes in combination with the cultivation of rare and highly sought-after varieties make their coffees truly next level. 

Note: You will likely notice that the label on this bag does not give a specific varietal and neither does it give any details on the special fermentation process. Long and short of it is, we just don’t know. Traditionally, when collecting and processing lots like this, the farmers would combine the several different varietals of coffee cherries from their farm. Sorting by variety is a fairly modern trend in the coffee industry and a lot of farmers still don’t practice this. This lot is likely a combination of several varieties. As far as processing goes, this is a bit of a mystery. Regulo is a bit of a maverick when it comes to processing his coffees. He doesn’t keep detailed records of everything he does along the way which is VERY different from producers like Luis Alberto and Luis Joaquin. Yet, despite the lack of details we have when it comes to the processing, we do know that the quality and flavor of this coffee is absolutely phenomenal. 

Quick Facts: 

• Region: Chirripó, Costa Rica
• Farm: Finca Chirripó
• Mill: Cafe Rivense
• Producer: Regulo Ureña and Family
• Process: Special Fermentation
• MASL: 1600 masl

In the Cup: Raspberry Jam, Butter Cookie, Gummy Rings, Creamy Mouthfeel

Learn more about Regulo Ureña and his family.