The coffee process (continued from October)

It's hard to believe we're not on holiday. We met Rolando in San Marcos and spent this particular beautiful morning following him on his coffee farm. We got the tour of how the coffee is picked and processed. On a WEDNESDAY... in FEBRUARY!!
I still have to pinch myself sometimes. 

For all you coffee drinkers, do you know who picks the coffee beans that end up in your cup?    

---

Do you know when coffee beans are ready to pick?

---

Do you know how many different kinds of coffee beans there are?

---

Do you know which season is best for harvesting coffee beans?

---

Do you know how they dry the beans?

---

Do you know the difference between drying outside on the 'patio' (what they call the large parking lot pavement area) and on the tables?

---

Do you know how many steps in the coffee process?

---

Do you know what is done with the husks?    

---

Do you know what it takes to be a coffee farmer?    

---

The Costa Rican coffee industry makes up only 4% of the world's coffee market; and for this reason, the Costa Rican government has mandated that all coffee exported from the country must be the highest quality. The standards are strictly regulated. Don Mayo, just north of San Marcos, is a micro coffee processing plant and like all other coffee farms, coffee is picked by hand only...no machines! When you visit, we highly recommend taking a tour to learn more about this fascinating process. Maybe you will develop even a greater appreciation for that delicious cup of Java.

---