As the new harvest of Costa Rican coffees begins to arrive, we’re proud to announce the second year of Echoes of Coffee, our ongoing documentary series that highlights the voices, lives, and legacies of long-standing coffee producer partners.
This year, we bring you four new episodes, each a window into the lives of the producers, told in their own words. These stories are released in tandem with the coffees they harvest season after season.
Each episode offers an intimate glimpse into the realities and relationships behind the coffees we cherish, from generational wisdom and innovative processing to resilience in the face of change. We thank them and are honored to share their stories.
Las Lajas Micromill
Out Now
Jhonnathan Camacho
Out Now
Don Sabino Micromill
Out Now
Aguilera Brothers
Out Now
“This all started in my grandfather’s garage—with just a small pulper and a little washer. Back then, we were just trying to make a good washed coffee. We had no idea how far it would take us.” – Daniel Aguilera
In this episode of Echoes of Coffee: Narratives from Costa Rican Producers, we head to Los Robles de Naranjo in Costa Rica’s West Valley to hear the story of Aguilera Bros, a family-run micromill built on passion, persistence, and the values passed down through generations.
Daniel Aguilera, third-generation coffee producer and one of the nephews now helping guide the operation, walks us through the journey from the early days of delivering cherry to other mills, to taking a leap into processing their own coffee, and eventually placing in the Cup of Excellence. Along the way, they learned to master naturals, honeys, and fermentations; all driven by curiosity and a willingness to take on new challenges. This is more than a coffee story. It’s a family story rooted in the legacy, but looking boldly ahead.
In this episode of Echoes of Coffee: Narratives from Costa Rican Producers, we visit Don Sabino, a family-run business where coffee has been a way of life for six generations.
Through the words of Steven Vargas, we hear how the family took a gamble that paid off, shifting from delivering cherries to processing their own coffee; a turning point that allowed them to learn, experiment, and grow. Starting with fully washed coffees, they explored honey processes and eventually perfected their natural coffees, creating profiles their customers love and earning recognition beyond Costa Rica.
This is a story about family, growth, and building something that will last for generations to come.
In this episode of Echoes of Coffee: Narratives from Costa Rican Producers, we meet Jhonnathan Camacho, a third-generation coffee grower who splits his time between medicine and the farm. Rooted in the hills of San José de Naranjo, Jhonnathan shares how he’s carried forward his family’s legacy while navigating the ever-growing challenges of coffee production in Costa Rica.
With warmth and honesty, he reflects on the steep learning curve, the impact of climate change, and the passion that keeps him committed to the land.
This is a story about returning home, adapting with purpose, and planting for the future.
At the foothills of the Poás volcano, Francisca and Oscar Chacón carry forward a deep-rooted legacy at Las Lajas Micromill. As third-generation coffee producers, their family has cultivated coffee since the 1950s, but their inheritance wasn’t just land; it was a mission.
Oscar’s father instilled in them a guiding belief: coffee should be part of a living, breathing ecosystem. The land must be nourished from the soil up, with cover crops, biodiversity, and a holistic approach to farming. This philosophy continues to shape everything they do.
Las Lajas is also renowned far beyond Costa Rica for their role in transforming how coffee is processed. From pioneering honey processing techniques to mastering naturals, Francisca and Oscar have continually adapted and innovated in response to changing conditions, be it climate, market demand, or flavor potential. Their dedication to both tradition and evolution is evident in the coffees they produce.
Released with the first episode, this special video zooms out to tell a parallel story: one of connection, trust, and shared vision.
In Tales from the Source, Andrew Miller, founder of Cafe Imports, reflects on his first visit to Las Lajas in 2010 and his first meeting with Francisca and Oscar. At the time, the Chacóns were already breaking ground with new processing methods that would later influence an entire industry.
Their collaboration marked the beginning of a long-standing relationship built not just on coffee, but on aligned values around quality, sustainability, and innovation. This video is a look back at that first meeting and everything that has grown from it since then.
This new season of Echoes of Coffee continues our commitment to sharing the stories behind the coffees because these aren’t just producers. They’re people who’ve spent their lives growing coffee, innovating, experimenting, and carrying forward what came before them, while constantly looking ahead.
The Echoes of Coffee series began last year with two narratives, featuring Alexander and Magali Delgado of Cerro San Luis Micromill and Diego Abarca Quiros of Alto San Juan Micromill. Enjoy those episodes on YouTube now.
If you enjoy the series, subscribe to our YouTube channel. Click the bell to be notified of the upcoming premieres and all of our video content.