San Jose: Aquiares Coffee Tour & Tasting 2 Hours
Watch coffee beans turn brown in the roaster, then taste what you just saw made
You walk through a working coffee farm outside Turrialba, watch beans roast and learn to taste coffee properly through a guided cupping session. The two-hour experience includes entry fees, a professional English-speaking guide, and all tastings. Groups max out at fifteen people, which keeps the pace manageable and the conversation real. Book ahead. They require a reservation before you arrive.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Discover coffee production at Aquiares
- Welcome at Aquiares church
- Walk through community and learn agronomy
- Coffee tour: beneficio, roasting, cupping
- Visit shop and cafeteria
What’s included
Your two hours include a professional English-speaking guide, entrance fees to the farm, mill, and church, a walk through the working coffee community, observation of the roasting process, a formal coffee cupping and tasting session, and access to the shop and cafeteria. Coffee and tea are provided throughout.
Times
- Every day 09:00 14:00
Before you book
Operated by Aquiares Coffee & Community Experience
Prices and times updated today
Traveler reviews
The experience
The smell hits you first, not the sweet café-con-leche kind, but something sharper, almost green. You're standing at the Aquiares beneficio, the processing mill seven kilometers north of Turrialba, and the roaster is running. Your guide walks you through what's happening in real time: the beans tumbling, the color shift from pale to deep mahogany, the exact moment they crack. It's the kind of detail that makes you understand why people care about coffee, not just drink it.
The two-hour tour starts at the Aquiares church with a welcome, then moves into the community itself. You walk through the working farm for about thirty minutes, learning how coffee grows here: the altitude, the soil, the shade trees, the timing of the harvest. It's not a manicured garden walk. It's actual farmland, and your guide knows the people working it. After that comes the mill tour, where you see the whole chain: the wet processing, the drying, the sorting. Then the roasting happens in front of you, and finally the cupping: the formal tasting where you learn to taste what you're actually drinking instead of just swallowing it. The whole thing wraps with time in the shop and cafeteria, though most people linger longer than the fifteen minutes scheduled.
Groups stay small, capped at fifteen people, which means you're not herded through. The guide is professional and speaks English, and everything (entry to the farm, the mill, the church, the coffee and tea) is included in the price. You need a minimum of two people to book, and the schedule runs at 9am or 2pm. Fair warning: you do need moderate fitness to walk the farm, and the terrain isn't flat, but it's not a hike either. If you're traveling with kids, they're welcome as long as an adult is with them.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand where your coffee actually comes from and don't want to spend a full day traveling to get there: the two-hour format and small group size mean you get the real farm experience without the logistics of a longer excursion.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
In English and Spanish, at 09:00 and 14:00. In French, at 09:00.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How far is Aquiares from San Jose?
Aquiares is about 70 kilometers east of San Jose, roughly a ninety-minute drive. It's located seven kilometers north of Turrialba in the Central Valley.
What time does the tour start?
Tours depart at 9am or 2pm. You choose the time when you book.
What's included in the price?
Entry to the farm, mill, and church; the guided tour; coffee and tea tasting; and a professional guide. Everything is included.
How many people can join?
Groups range from a minimum of two people to a maximum of fifteen per booking.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes, a reservation is required before you arrive. Walk-ins are not accepted.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
The farm is wheelchair accessible, though the terrain includes some slopes. Contact the operator to discuss your specific needs.
Can I get there by public transport?
Public transportation options are available near Aquiares, though a car or arranged transfer is more convenient for the location.
San Jose: Aquiares Coffee Tour & Tasting 2 Hours
2h · EN · ES · FR
from US$ 42 per person
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