Sweven - Aquiares Esperanza 200g | Costa Rica

An outstanding expression of the rare Esperanza hybrid, cultivated and carefully processed at the Aquiares Estate by our long-standing partner Diego Robelo.

Our relationship with Diego Robelo and Aquiares began even before Sweven. We first met Diego before founding the roastery, and since our earliest seasons we have returned to Aquiares almost every year, featuring a number of exceptional lots along the way.

Located on the slopes of the Turrialba Volcano, Aquiares is one of Costa Rica’s most historic coffee estates, founded in 1890 and today led by Diego. Under his direction, the farm has become recognised not only for exceptional coffee, but for its progressive approach to sustainability, research and innovation.

Aquiares has planted more than 50,000 shade trees, protects significant areas of the estate for conservation and works closely with organisations including CATIE and CIRAD on research into new coffee varieties and climate-resilient agriculture. Its extensive variety garden contains more than 30 different coffee varieties, reflecting the experimental spirit that has become central to Diego’s work.

Having followed Aquiares for so many years, it has been particularly rewarding to see that work continue to evolve. Esperanza represents exactly what has always fascinated us about the estate: an unusual variety, progressive agronomy and a constant pursuit of both quality and sustainability.

Esperanza is a rare F1 hybrid created from T5296, a rust-resistant Sarchimor descendant, and ET25, an Ethiopian landrace accession preserved within CATIE’s coffee collection. The variety combines resilience and productivity with the complex cup potential of its Ethiopian genetics.

The story of Esperanza is closely connected to Aquiares itself. After initially being overlooked for commercial release, plants remaining on the estate proved particularly well suited to Turrialba’s high rainfall and humid climate. Aquiares became one of the farms instrumental in demonstrating the potential of the variety, which remains relatively rare in commercial production.

For this lot, the cherries are carefully sorted by flotation before beginning a natural process with the fruit remaining intact. They are dried for two days on ceramic floors, followed by ten days on raised beds at temperatures between approximately 28°C and 45°C, before a final day of mechanical drying completes the process.

In the cup, expect raspberry, orange and white rum. Sweet and vibrant, the profile combines round, juicy acidity with a buttery mouthfeel, while ripe fruit sweetness develops into a lingering sugarcane and vanilla finish.

This is a distinctive expression of Esperanza and another beautiful example of the innovation and quality that have made Aquiares such an important part of Sweven’s journey.