Costa Rica is known around the world for its rich coffee production, so perhaps it comes as no surprise that Jaco has seen a recent explosion of coffee shops and specialists all down the Pastor Diaz strip.

Travel books and websites tend to characterize Jaco by its surf scene and nightlife, often forgetting to mention that surfers and bar patrons alike are literally fueled by the town’s thriving coffee culture.

Underneath Platinum Gym, Cafeteria Pura Vida is a family run soda that dishes out protein smoothies alongside plates of pinto for fitness junkies both before and after their workouts.

Next to the blender is the espresso machine, where they whip up their $2 lattes (misnamed on the menu as merely “Cafe con Leche”). For 1,000 colones Cafe Pura Vida’s ‘Cafe con Leche’ wins Jaco’s Best Value Cupa’ Joe by a longshot.

For those looking for a refreshing iced energy boost on a hot day, most places serve blended frappuccino style treats sweetened to your liking.

Cafe Del Mar (on the north end of Pastor Diaz across from the park) offers perhaps the most generously portioned coffee on the rocks, while The Coffee Shop (tucked away off the main strip, next to El Jardin shopping center) endows their cold brew with hand­poured frozen coffee cubes.

While Cafe Del Mar’s expansive menú includes seafood, The Coffee Shop has the cleanest bathrooms in Jaco, and also features American style bacon with their Gallo Pinto.

If the thought of intricacies like frozen cold brew ice cubes excites you, Coffee Beach is a CAN’T MISS on many levels. Not only do the friendly baristas boast an astounding repertoire of caffeinated beverages, but they also roast the beans in house.

Barista Oscar Marin, who won runner up in the 2013 Costa Rican Barista Championship, offers his “Brew like a pro” workshop, which includes a cupping session to help train your tongue to distinguish bean flavors.

I asked Oscar to make me his best drink, so he made me three, explaining that to get a true sense of their beans, from the world famous Tarrazu region of Costa Rica, one must simple them in different configurations of taste and temperature. I’m a sucker for the Iced Americano, but if you are in search of the perfect cappuccino (complete with foam art), look no further tan Coffee Beach.

On the sweeter side, Coffee Beach also offers Affogato (espresso over vanilla ice cream) and their very own creation, Jaco Beach Style Iced blended coffee, which showcases a secret blend of sweet seasonings with just a hint of local fruit extract.

Though the array of coffee choices may seem overwhelming, it not out of the question to visit one spot in the morning, another spot in the afternoon, and then repeat for as many days as one has in Jaco. Maybe I’m all hopped up on caffeine, but we’ll call it the Jaco Coffee Crawl.

For more information about condos, homes and land for sale in the beach town of Jaco and surrounding areas please contact our Recommended Realtors in Jaco Shawn Fletcher and his wife Hannah Fletcher
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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.