How to Visit the Starbucks Coffee Farm in Costa Rica
Starbucks lovers, this one’s for you!
I don’t know about you guys, but my day doesn’t officially start until I have my coffee. And as much as I love specialty coffee brands, I’m always going to be a Starbucks girl at heart.
So, when I planned my trip to Costa Rica there was one thing I knew for sure: I HAD to visit the Starbucks Coffee Farm.
I’d seen a few pictures of the coffee farm (which is officially called Hacienda Alsacia) at Starbucks cafes around the states. And at the Roastery in NYC, they have a huge display about the farm.
If you are wondering, “what exactly is the Starbucks Coffee Farm?”, don’t worry. In this post, I am going to dive into everything you need to know about Hacienda Alsacia. Trust me, if you are a Starbucks fan like me, you are going to want to add this to your Costa Rica itinerary.
Everything You Need to Know About the Starbucks Coffee Farm in Costa Rica
The Basics
Hacienda Alsacia is Starbucks’s first (and only) coffee farm. It opened to the public in March 2018. This is a working farm where Starbucks grows and harvests Arabica coffee beans. However, this farm is mainly used as a research and development site. The main focus of Hacienda Alsacia is to produce disease-resistance coffee beans. Basically, that means the beans here are not really grown to be used in the coffee you drink at your local Starbucks cafe. But, by visiting Hacienda Alsacia, you can still see a working coffee farm and learn a ton about the process of growing, harvesting, and producing coffee.
The Hacienda Alsacia consists of a working farm + a beautiful cafe and Visitor Center. While you are here, you can take a tour of the farm (more about that later!) or simply enjoy a delicious coffee drink while sitting in a rocking chair overlooking the farm. This cafe is the most beautiful Starbucks location I’ve ever seen. Their menu is similar to the ones you will find at a Starbucks Reserve Roastery and they also serve coffee made from the beans grown on the farm.
Location
Address: 15 KM North from the Alajuela Justice Courts, Provincia de Alajuela, Dulce Nombre, Costa Rica
Hacienda Alsacia is located high on the slopes of the Poás Volcano. It is just under an hour from San Jose.
How to Get Here
I’m not going to lie, this is a bit tricky. Really the only way to get here is to drive. And the road is very windy and steep. So if you are prone to motion sickness (like me), get ready for a rough trip. But the scenery around you is beautiful and once you get there it is all worth it!
If you are traveling from San Jose or the airport, you can follow Route 1 and Route 712. Make sure you download Google Maps in advance so you can use offline navigation, in case you lose service on your trip out to the farm.
Cafe
Hacienda Alsacia features a working coffee farm and a Starbucks cafe. You don’t have to tour the farm to visit the cafe. If you want, you can simply stop by to enjoy a drink and the beautiful views. The cafe is open-air and has plenty of comfortable seating. You can even sit in a rocking chair facing the farm, which is a really peaceful spot. The cafe offers drinks that you wouldn’t find at other Starbucks locations, including coffee that is made from beans grown on the farm.
Tour Options
I highly recommend booking a tour for your visit to the Starbucks Coffee Farm. You don’t have to take a tour, but the tour really enhanced my experience!
As of October 2019, the farm offers one tour, the Coffee Tour.
This 90-minute tour starts at the Visitor Center and includes a guided visit to the farm. You will learn how coffee is grown, harvested, and produced. You will get hands-on experience during the tour as you have the chance to harvest a few coffee beans yourself. At the end of the tour, you will get to taste coffee that was made from beans grown at Hacienda Alsacaia.
You can purchase tickets online in advance, or at the Visitor Center once you arrive. I purchased my tickets in advance, but my husband and I were the only people on our tour. We did visit during the rainy season, so there were fewer tourists in Costa Rica in general, but it seems like we would have been completely fine to buy our tickets once we arrived.
These tours are offered in either English or Spanish.
Cost
The Coffee Tour costs:
- Adults – $30.00
- Senior Citizens (Must show gold card upon arrival) – $25.50
- Students (Must show Student ID upon arrival) – $27.00
- Partners (Must show Partner Card upon arrival) – $21.00
- Children (6 and under) – Free!
- Costa Rican Nationals – $16.40
- Costa Rican National Student – $12.75
Of course, this price doesn’t include what you might buy at the cafe or gift shop. The coffee prices are higher than a standard Starbucks, but you are paying for the incredible view and experience, too.
Hours
Hacienda Alsacia is open 365 days a year.
- Visitor Center: 8:00 am- 4:00 pm
- Cafe and Gift Shop: 8:00 am- 6:00 pm
Tours are offered every half-hour.
What to Expect
Be ready for a unique Starbucks experience! Once you arrive, park in the surprisingly small parking lot and make your way to the entrance. You will soon see the impressive view of the coffee farm. If you have a tour (or want to sign up for one), check-in at the desk just to the right after you enter. Otherwise, keep walking down the slight hill until you reach the Visitor Center and cafe. Here, you can order a drink and make yourself comfortable in the cozy space.
If you take a tour, you will get a 90-minute experience on the farm. My guide was very informative and provided a great overview of the process of growing and harvesting coffee. Even if you are not a huge Starbucks fan, you will learn a lot about coffee in general, which I think makes the tour worth it.
Don’t worry if you don’t want to take a tour. There is no pressure to sign up for one. You can also just go to the cafe and order a drink. You will still see most of the farm from the cafe, you just won’t get the guided visit that you would with a tour.
FAQs
Alright, now that we’ve discussed the major points, let’s look at some FAQs. These were the big questions I had before visiting the Starbucks Coffee Farm.
Do I Need a Tour?
No, you don’t have to take a tour to visit. You can still go to Hacienda Alsacia to just walk around and visit the cafe. But, if you want to explore the actual farm and learn more about coffee, you will need to sign up for a tour.
Is there an Actual Starbucks Cafe Here?
Oh, yes! The cafe is beautiful. Don’t miss it! Once you arrive, you will walk down a slight hill and see the main building, here the cafe is located. There is a large coffee bar and plenty of comfortable seating. Order a specialty drink and find a table with a view of the farm.
How Long Will I Spend Here?
That depends, how much do you like Starbucks? I spend over 3 hours at the farm. I know, that seems like a long time. But I took the 90-minute tour. Plus, I had a coffee before AND after the tour. I really wanted to soak in this space. But, you could easily stop by for a coffee and spend 30-minutes or less.
Is it Worth the Cost?
Again, how much do you like Starbucks? For me, it was worth every penny. I’d been dreaming of visiting the Starbucks Coffee Farm for a long time. But, a $30 tour isn’t cheap. If you are not that into coffee or Starbucks, you could skip the tour to save a bit of money.
The drinks are more expensive than a typical Starbucks, but I do think these are well worth the cost. In addition to the coffee, you will get to spend time in the beautiful cafe and see the farm. You don’t have to pay to park or to walk around the space, so I think buying a coffee is definitely worth it!
Can’t Miss at the Starbucks Coffee Farm
These are my top 3 can’t miss experiences at Hacienda Alsacia:
Coffee Tour
Earlier I said that this tour might not be worth the cost if you are not a huge Starbucks fan. While I stand by that, I am a big Starbucks fan (No lie, I’m currently writing this from a Starbucks). But this tour doesn’t just focus on the Starbucks company. On the tour, I learned a lot about how coffee is actually made. I got to see coffee beans, taste the coffee fruit, and learn how the beans are processed. It really made me appreciate coffee even more than I already do!
Specialty Drinks
If you have ever visited a Starbucks Reserve or one of the Starbucks Reserve Roasteries, you might be familiar with the specialty drinks they offer. These are not found on menus at your typical Starbucks cafe. These vary from location-to-location but sometimes include a Dark Chocolate Mocha or a Shakerato Affogato.
Hacienda Alsacia also offers some of these specialty drinks. In addition, you can also enjoy tasting flights made with coffee grown on the farm. The Brew Comparison Flight gives you the chance to try Hacienda Alsacia coffee brewed two ways, in a Clover and in a Pour Over.
Basically, make sure you get some sort of coffee. You are visiting the Starbucks Coffee Farm after all!
Murals
The Visitor Center and farm are decorated with beautiful murals. Spend some time admiring these bright paintings while you sip your coffee. The murals represent the community and the importance that coffee has played in the region for generations.
I hope you enjoyed my guide to visiting the Starbucks Coffee Farm. Are you adding this to your Costa Rica itinerary?
If you are looking for more, check out this post:
6 Can’t Miss Experiences in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
If you liked this post, feel free to share it or pin it!
