Jaguar Honey

The Mill: Beneficio San Diego

Beneficio San Diego was established in 1888 — making it one of Costa Rica's oldest and most respected coffee mills. For 138 years, this mill has been processing coffee from the Tarrazú highlands, and its accumulated expertise shows in every lot it produces. The mill's longevity is not a historical footnote. It's a competitive advantage. Six generations of millers have refined techniques, invested in infrastructure, and built relationships with the same smallholder farms that supply this Jaguar Honey lot.

The mill's location in the Tarrazú valley gives it direct access to the region's best cherries. Tarrazú is Costa Rica's premier coffee region — the Andes' Cordillera de Talamanca creates the elevation, the climate, and the soil that produce Costa Rica's most distinctive cups. The region's coffee is so respected that "Tarrazú" is protected as a denomination of origin.

The Honey Process

The honey process is what gives this coffee its name and its character. Unlike washed coffee (where the mucilage is fully removed) or natural coffee (where the cherry stays on entirely), honey processing removes the skin but leaves some or all of the mucilage — the sticky, sugar-rich layer between the skin and the parchment — on the bean during drying.

This residual mucilage ferments slightly during drying, contributing sweetness, body, and fruit notes that you don't get from a washed process. The honey process was popularized in Costa Rica, and Beneficio San Diego has been doing it longer than almost anyone.

Specifications