Costa Rica - Finca El Rodeo by Palmichal Micromill - Catuai x Caturra Natural

Nestled in the highlands of Tarrazú, El Rodeo is a 20-hectare farm owned by Christian Alvarez, a native of Jorco who balances his profession as a lawyer with his passion for coffee. The farm, which overlooks a series of small towns connected by winding roads, is primarily planted with Caturra and Catuaí varieties, cultivated under the shade of native Poró trees. Christian acquired the farm in 2012, fulfilling a shared vision with his father, Olman Alvarez, who had spent his youth working in coffee before a long career in government service. Upon retirement, Olman returned to his roots, working hand-in-hand with Christian to revitalize the land. Today, El Rodeo is a true father-son venture, blending strategic vision with hands-on experience. Coffee harvested from El Rodeo is processed at the renowned Palmichal Micromill, a facility owned by CECA and known for its ability to handle both traditional and specialty coffees. While Palmichal historically processed commercial-grade lots, recent innovations have transformed it into a hub for microlot excellence, featuring a dedicated hopper system and state-of-the-art demucilager technology. This particular lot—a blend of Catuai and Caturra—has been naturally processed to accentuate its fruity and sweet character. After selective harvesting, the ripest cherries are sent to Palmichal, where they are first density-sorted. High-density cherries are partially dried on raised beds, then moved to a Guardiola mechanical dryer to complete the drying process in about 10 days. Once dried, the cherries are hulled and optically sorted, ensuring only the finest beans make it through to the final stage.