Meet Aquia: A Costa Rican Coffee with a Story to Tell

At Harvestry, every bag of coffee we roast has a story behind it. Some stories are about flavour, some about place, and some about people. With Aquia, our single origin from Costa Rica, you get all three.

A Coffee Born Between Rivers

Aquia comes from Aquiares Estate, one of Costa Rica’s most historic and environmentally progressive coffee farms. Perched on the fertile slopes of the Turrialba Volcano, the farm takes its name from the Huetar word meaning “land between rivers”. It’s not just beautiful — it’s also one of the most important hubs of sustainable coffee production in the world.

The estate is huge — 924 hectares in total, with more than two-thirds dedicated to shade-grown Arabica. Walk through the rows of coffee trees and you’ll find streams, natural springs, and forest corridors full of birds and wildlife. This harmony between coffee and environment is part of what makes Aquia so special.

Community at its Heart

Aquiares is more than a coffee farm — it’s also home to a thriving community of over 1,800 people. In the 1990s, the farm began helping workers become homeowners by offering land at affordable rates and supporting applications for government housing funds. Today, over 96% of Aquiares residents own their own homes, and the town has its own school, youth sports programmes, recycling initiatives, and even a historic church.

This focus on people, as much as coffee, is why Aquiares is often seen as a model for what coffee farming can be: sustainable, fair, and deeply rooted in community wellbeing.

From Cherry to Cup

Our Aquia coffee is made from the Obata varietal, grown between 1,100–1,400 metres above sea level. It’s a natural process coffee, which means the coffee cherries are dried whole, allowing the beans to absorb more of the fruit’s natural sweetness.

At Aquiares, this is done in a custom-built greenhouse with a precision airflow system — think of it as the farm’s way of fine-tuning the drying process for maximum flavour.

The result? A coffee that’s bold yet balanced, full of rich, jammy notes of plum, with the gentle sweetness of panela sugar and a smooth, cocoa-toned finish.

How We Roast It

Here in London, we roast Aquia in small batches to bring out its natural character. We like to keep the roast clean and balanced so the fruitiness shines through, while still giving you that satisfying body and sweetness in the cup.

Brew It Your Way

While Aquia works beautifully across different brew methods, here’s our go-to filter recipe if you’re brewing at home:

Pour-Over / V60

Dose: 18g coffee
Yield: 270ml brewed coffee
Grind: Medium
Water temp: 94°C
Time: 2:45 – 3:15

Expect a vibrant cup that’s sweet, fruity, and silky smooth.

Why We Love It

Aquia represents everything we believe coffee should be: delicious, sustainable, and meaningful. Behind every sip is a story of innovation, community, and care for the land.

So whether you enjoy it as your morning filter or pull it as an espresso, know that you’re not just tasting a coffee — you’re connecting with a place and a community that’s doing things the right way.

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