Costa Rica Cafe Vida from Cat & Cloud challenges what you expect from Costa Rican coffee. While the region is known for honey and natural processes, this lot celebrates the clarity of washed coffee—apricot brightness, warm pastry sweetness, and the kind of balance that makes you slow down and pay attention. Sourced from hundreds of smallholder producers across 15 micromills, it's a snapshot of Costa Rica's terroir without the heavy influence of fermentation experiments.
The cup opens with fresh apricot, bright but gentle, never sharp. As it cools, you'll find monkey bread—that pull-apart pastry sweetness with a citrus glaze and walnut richness. The acidity is delicate, the body soft and approachable. This is coffee that doesn't shout. It rewards attention but never demands expertise.
Tasting Notes
Flavor: Apricot, monkey bread, citrus glaze, walnut
Body: Soft, delicate mouthfeel
Acidity: Light and balanced, never aggressive
Finish: Clean with lingering pastry sweetness
This is a nuanced coffee that proves washed-process Costa Rican beans can compete with any experimental lot when the sourcing is dialed in. The fruit is there, but it's integrated—never one-dimensional.
Brew Methods
Cafe Vida shines brightest in pour over methods like V60 or Chemex, where its delicate fruit notes and clean finish can fully express themselves. A 1:16 ratio with water just off boil (around 200°F) will highlight the apricot and pastry complexity.
It also works beautifully in a French press for a fuller-bodied cup that emphasizes the nutty, bread-like sweetness. Drip coffee drinkers will appreciate its forgiving nature—it's balanced enough to taste great even in a automatic brewer.
While it can pull as espresso, this coffee truly excels in filter methods where its subtlety isn't lost.
About Cat & Cloud
Cat & Cloud, based in Santa Cruz, California, has built a reputation for approachable specialty coffee that doesn't sacrifice quality for accessibility. Their sourcing relationships emphasize transparency and long-term partnerships with producers.
Questions about grind size, water temperature, or which brewing gear pairs best with this coffee? Clive's team is here to help you get the most out of every bag.
Costa Rica Cafe Vida from Cat & Cloud challenges what you expect from Costa Rican coffee. While the region is known for honey and natural processes, this lot celebrates the clarity of washed coffee—apricot brightness, warm pastry sweetness, and the kind of balance that makes you slow down and pay attention. Sourced from hundreds of smallholder producers across 15 micromills, it's a snapshot of Costa Rica's terroir without the heavy influence of fermentation experiments.
The cup opens with fresh apricot, bright but gentle, never sharp. As it cools, you'll find monkey bread—that pull-apart pastry sweetness with a citrus glaze and walnut richness. The acidity is delicate, the body soft and approachable. This is coffee that doesn't shout. It rewards attention but never demands expertise.
Tasting Notes
Flavor: Apricot, monkey bread, citrus glaze, walnut
Body: Soft, delicate mouthfeel
Acidity: Light and balanced, never aggressive
Finish: Clean with lingering pastry sweetness
This is a nuanced coffee that proves washed-process Costa Rican beans can compete with any experimental lot when the sourcing is dialed in. The fruit is there, but it's integrated—never one-dimensional.
Brew Methods
Cafe Vida shines brightest in pour over methods like V60 or Chemex, where its delicate fruit notes and clean finish can fully express themselves. A 1:16 ratio with water just off boil (around 200°F) will highlight the apricot and pastry complexity.
It also works beautifully in a French press for a fuller-bodied cup that emphasizes the nutty, bread-like sweetness. Drip coffee drinkers will appreciate its forgiving nature—it's balanced enough to taste great even in a automatic brewer.
While it can pull as espresso, this coffee truly excels in filter methods where its subtlety isn't lost.
About Cat & Cloud
Cat & Cloud, based in Santa Cruz, California, has built a reputation for approachable specialty coffee that doesn't sacrifice quality for accessibility. Their sourcing relationships emphasize transparency and long-term partnerships with producers.
Questions about grind size, water temperature, or which brewing gear pairs best with this coffee? Clive's team is here to help you get the most out of every bag.
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