Harvest Begins in Some Coffee Regions

Coffee harvest does not begin at the same time across Costa Rica. Differences in altitude, temperature, rainfall, and flowering patterns cause cherries to mature earlier in some regions than in others. Turrialba, Orosi, Brunca, and Guanacaste are among the first areas where harvesting activity begins, with some farms starting to collect their earliest ripe cherries between July and August.

In early harvesting regions such as Turrialba, Coto Brus, and Pérez Zeledón, the first selective pickings begin before the main harvest reaches its peak. At this stage, producers carefully identify ripe cherries while leaving green fruit on the trees to continue developing. These first rounds mark the beginning of several months of harvesting work.

Other well known regions follow later in the season. The Central Valley and Tres Ríos generally begin around October, while Tarrazú and the West Valley usually start in November. This difference in timing allows Costa Rica's harvest to develop gradually rather than arriving all at once.

For buyers and roasters, the beginning of harvest is an exciting moment. It signals that a new crop is starting its journey, with fresh lots, new profiles, and new opportunities gradually becoming available as harvesting progresses across the country.