Ricardo Perez is a remarkable producer from Costa Rica’s West Valley region who’s gained acclaimed for the quality of his coffee as well as his role in ushering in a new era of production methods in Costa Rican coffee. As one of the pioneers of the “micro-milling revolution,” Ricardo was among the earliest and best examples of producers breaking out of the cooperative model to produce world-class coffees that he could independently process on his small farm.

In Costa Rica, like many parts of the coffee-producing world, farming is often done by small land owners who feed into a cooperative system. This system gives producers a place to bring their harvest for milling and processing, which can be an invaluable resource since processing know-how and equipment can be cost- and resource-prohibitive. But it also means that a producer’s lot is mixed in with others from the area, and are often held at the whim of the commodity market that desires to keep prices low.

By creating a micro-milling system, Ricardo was able to control the quality of his production while keeping his coffee separate from other lots. In by-passing the cooperative system, Ricardo is able to negotiate with specialty coffee buyers to maximize his earning potential. This micro-milling revolution has led many producers to realize growth in quality and profits in recent years.

Back for a third year at Mammoth Espresso, Ricardo’s Santa Lucia coffee is a rich and complex experience with milk chocolate sweetness, hints of citrus, and notes of raisin and spice. It’s roasted by our partners at Madcap Coffee in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Santa Lucia will be available for a limited time.

It’s worth noting that we also serve a tisane (herbal tea) from Ricardo’s farm. Cascara is the dried skin of the coffee cherry that can be brewed similarly to tea. Ricardo has partnered with San Jose University in Costa Rica to produce an unparalleled cascara using advanced drying and processing techniques. This cascara has notes of hibiscus, peach and cinnamon. You can find it on our tea menu.