The first Arabica coffee plant was sown in Central Valley of Costa Rica in the late 1700’s — making it the first Central American country to invest in this commodity.

Despite a slow start coffee eventually took off and is now a booming export market and Cost Rica’s most exported product — surpassing even cacao, sugar, and tobacco.

With world coffee consumption set to increase by 25% in the next five years things are only looking up for the Cost Rican coffee industry. While the next 5 years promises good things for investors intending to profit from trading in coffee it wasn’t always this way.

In the 1990’s Vietnam re-entered the coffee market after an absence of some years as the country recovered from the devastation wrought by the Vietnam War.

As the environment in Vietnam is perfect for growing Robusto — a cheaper and hardier alternative to the Arabica bean — Vietnam could afford to take an aggressive stance in its attempts to once again be a dominant force in the global coffee trade.

They were so successful that the market price of coffee was driven down to such an extent that it very nearly collapsed the market.

In response to a collapsing world market the world’s coffee industry rallied its forces and worked ceaselessly to increase the popularity of coffee and bring the product back into a state of demand rather than over supply.

Their efforts included the development of quality control mechanisms, incentivizing roasters to experiment with the development of new blends and varieties of coffee, and supporting farmers in creating and maintaining high standards.

Their efforts have paid off as more coffee is being traded and sold than ever before, and all despite rising market prices. Continued marketing efforts by the ICO (International Coffee Association) has turned coffee consumption into an affordable luxury.

The bottomless but dull cup of coffee is a thing of the past with brand awareness creating a culture that has no problem paying $5.00 a cup for a specialty blend, or $20.00 a pound for a nice Costa Rican brew.

While the efforts of the ICO are admirable in creating a growing demand for coffee there are other forces at play which have also helped improve its investment value. The increasingly westernized cultures of India and China and the rise in popularity of specialty coffee houses where it is popular to socialize while enjoying an exotic blend have both played their part.

All of this coffee consumption puts pressure on the global supply, but what it really comes down is that more and more people are hankering for a decent cup of coffee which has flavor and variety that goes beyond the bland supermarket variety. With growing demand comes increased opportunity for profitable investment.

The land around Costa Rica is home to some of the best coffee growing environments in the world. Volcanic activity has created mountainous regions with fertile soil at altitudes and temperatures that coffee plants thrive in.

The taste of a coffee brew is highly dependent on the surrounding environment, presenting each plantation with the unique opportunity to create its own distinctive blend.

A savvy investor can therefore take advantage of a growing market increasingly populated by coffee enthusiasts who are always on the lookout for new and distinctive flavors in their coffee brews.

Coffee Research

• Coffee Consumption Around The World.
• Coffee In Costa Rica.

Written by James Drews who is a professional Realtor living and working on the Southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

If you have ever dreamed of living in a place that’s as close to a tropical paradise as you can find … Please contact our Recommended Costa Rica Realtors Daveed Hollander and James Drews in Dominical in the Southern Pacific area, by using the simple form below:

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.