Coffee region guide
West Valley
웨스트 밸리
A western origin encompassing localities such as Naranjo, San Ramón and Palmares.
Also known as: Valle Occidental · Occidental · Occidente
Explore connected microregions
- Microregion · West ValleyNaranjo나란호Explore 2 connected areas800–1,700 mA West Valley locality producing specialty lots such as Villa Sarchi.Recorded flavors · Floral · Blueberry · Round mouthfeel
- Microregion · West ValleyZarcero사르세로Maria Elena Castro grows coffee on Finca Danto in Zarcero, West Valley. The family processes its harvest at Monte Brisas.Recorded flavors · Cashew · Lemon drop · Buttercream
Place and growing environment
Volcanic soils cover Central Range valleys and slopes; harvest overlaps the dry season.
Regional flavors
- 01Apricot
- 02Peach
- 03Balanced acidity
Processing
Washed · Natural
Grown varieties
Caturra · Catuai · Villa Sarchi · SL28 · Geisha · Sudan Rume · Milenio · Villa Lobos · Catigua · Marsellesa
Caturra
A compact Bourbon mutation discovered in Brazil.
- Lineage
- A single-gene mutation subsequently selected by IAC from 1937.
- Growing conditions
- Short internodes and closely spaced branches suit dense planting; susceptible to leaf rust.
- Traits
- Widely cultivated in Central America and used as a benchmark in variety trials.
Catuai
A productive compact variety released by Brazil's IAC in 1972.
- Lineage
- Selected from a cross of Mundo Novo and Caturra.
- Growing conditions
- Its compact stature supports dense planting; susceptible to leaf rust.
- Traits
- Separate selections produce red or yellow fruit.
Villa Sarchi
A compact variety discovered in Costa Rica's Alajuela province.
- Lineage
- Selected from a natural mutation in a Bourbon population.
- Growing conditions
- Adapted to high elevations and tolerant of strong winds.
- Traits
- A parent used in developing the Sarchimor group.
SL28
A drought-tolerant selection made by Kenya's Scott Laboratories in 1935.
- Lineage
- Selected from Tanganyika Drought Resistant, with Bourbon-related genetics.
- Growing conditions
- Suited to middle and high elevations; drought tolerant but susceptible to major diseases.
- Traits
- Long-lived trees can remain productive, with strong high-altitude cup potential.
Gesha
A name used for several genetically distinct coffee lineages originating in Ethiopia.
- Lineage
- Descendants of accession T2722 distributed in Panama form a distinct lineage.
Sudan Rume
An Arabica lineage used as a breeding parent of F1 cultivars including Milenio.
- Growing conditions
- Also grown as separate lots by Café Granja La Esperanza in Colombia.
- Traits
- PT's Granja La Esperanza natural lot shows grape, molasses and grapefruit-zest notes.
Milenio
A compact F1 cultivar developed through a Central American breeding collaboration.
- Lineage
- A cross of T5296 and Rume Sudan.
- Growing conditions
- Large beans and high yield potential; propagated clonally.
- Traits
- Seed saved from the hybrid produces segregating offspring.
Catigua
A name shared by distinct EPAMIG selections including Catiguá MG2 and MGS Catiguá 3.
Marsellesa
Selected in Nicaragua by ECOM and CIRAD and released in 2009.
- Lineage
- A Sarchimor lineage from Timor Hybrid 832/2 × Villa Sarchi CIFC 971/10.
- Growing conditions
- Productive at middle elevations, with high nutrient requirements.
- Traits
- Known for pronounced acidity and intermediate rust resistance.
Lot details
Cordillera de Fuego Anaerobic
Cordillera de Fuego S.A.
Finca Berlin, San Ramón de Alajuela, West Valley
- Variety · process
- Catuai · CaturraThermal shock anaerobic fermentation
- Tasting notes
- Cherry · Red fruits · Chocolate · Maple syrup · Allspice
Azul
La Carreta Azul; FJO Patalillo mill
West Valley; processed at Patalillo, Tres Ríos
- Variety · process
- Caturra · CatuaiRed honey
- Tasting notes
- Grapefruit · Dark chocolate · Honey · Black tea
Volcán Azul
Alejandro Castro — Volcán Azul
Poás slopes, West Valley · Harvest 2025–2026
- Variety · process
- CaturraHoney · Swiss Water decaffeination
- Tasting notes
- Caramel · Green grape · Lime · Orange zest
Sources
- Valle Occidental(opens in a new tab)
ICAFE · Accessed
- Los Coyotes Natural(opens in a new tab)
Ally Coffee · Accessed
- Villa Sarchi Washed SHB — Cafetalera Herbazu(opens in a new tab)
DocNurse Coffee Importers · Accessed
- Familia Salazar — Los Cipreses(opens in a new tab)
Change of Tone · Accessed
- Aguilera Brothers(opens in a new tab)
Horsham Coffee Roaster · Accessed
- La Isla Micromill — Catigua(opens in a new tab)
Ally Coffee · Accessed
- Costa Rica — Cordillera de Fuego — Anaerobic(opens in a new tab)
Bohee Coffee Roasters · Accessed
- Costa Rica Azul — Red Honey from La Carreta Azul(opens in a new tab)
WASA Coffee · Accessed
- Volcan Azul — Caturra — Honey — Microlot — SWD(opens in a new tab)
Ally Coffee · Accessed
- San Juanillo Platanillo — Marsellesa Red Honey(opens in a new tab)
Fuglen Coffee Roasters Tokyo · Accessed
- Gaia Artisan — Finca Sebastian Milenio Black Honey(opens in a new tab)
Scenery Coffee · Accessed
- Sumava Monte Llano Bonito Milenio Natural(opens in a new tab)
Unspecialty · 코스피어 · Accessed
- Monte Brisas Danto(opens in a new tab)
Fonte Coffee Roaster · Accessed
- Helsar de Zarcero White Honey Decaf(opens in a new tab)
Coffee Libre · Accessed