No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsArts and CultureCoffee expo showcases 'vandola,' the Costa Rican coffee pour-over brewer

Coffee expo showcases ‘vandola,’ the Costa Rican coffee pour-over brewer

ALAJUELA — Over the course of three days, the south side of the City Mall is turning visitors’ attentions to chocolate and coffee.

Jacob Spetzler / The Tico Times

The Costa Rica Coffee & Chocolate Expo consists of presentations, vendors and a barista competition. The vendors are set up in a triangle — among them are the coffee and chocolate experts, as well a series of tables housing everything from tamales, to colorful candies, to homemade honey and artisan wood.

In the center of the triangle stand a series of presenters discussing the finer points of coffee brewing and roasting. A small crowd, tiny cups of coffee in hand, gathers by the stage tolerant about creating the absolute best cup of joe.

The true thematic center of the expo, though, is the vandola. Invented by a local coffee shop owner, Minor Alfaro, it’s a play off of the traditional Costa Rican coffee brewing methods that have been employed for centuries.

Alfaro created the first vandola four years ago, and it has quickly gained attention among baristas and others in the coffee industry. He says it has taken hold across the world — from Costa Rica, through Central America, to Europe — because it produces coffee with excellent flavor.

Jacob Spetzler / The Tico Times

When asked what makes the vandola special, Alfaro points to its clay composition. The vandola is similar to the glass Chemex, but Alfaro says the glass doesn’t do coffee’s flavors any favors.

On the other hand, Alfaro says clay enhances and improves coffee’s flavor, texture and smell.

The other important design piece, Alfaro says, is the small hole located beneath the handle that allows for the coffee to oxygenate in a way that other brew methods don’t, creating the intricate retronasal flavorsflavors you can only sense through your nose. And, in terms of practicality, clay keeps the coffee hotter for longer.

During Saturday’s barista competition, the vandola was used exclusively. One of the event’s organizers, Maureen Monge, said that a reason for the competition was to present the vandola as a legitimate form of coffee brewing.

Behind closed doors, several San José baristas will be judged on their ability to make the best cup of coffee, earning points based on criteria that include acidity and flavor balance.

Sunday, the results of the competition will be released alongside several talks from Alfaro and others touting the vandola as an excellent tool for brewing coffee.

Besides the vandola, the expo is meant as a sort of industry mixer.

“It’s a great way for those involved in the Costa Rican coffee industry to meet one another and learn more about coffee,” said Karla Leal, a coffee shop representative.

And if that knowledge sharing results in better coffee? Well, that’s a benefit for just about everyone.

 

Jacob Spetzler / The Tico Times

This story was updated Sunday, May 12 to clarify Alfaro’s comments about the differences between glass and clay coffeemakers. 

For more information on coffee from Costa Rica  and how to brew a better cup, check out this article from Craft Coffee Guru

Trending Now

Nicaragua Hosts Historic 2025 AmeriCup Basketball Tournament

The 2025 AmeriCup, the men’s basketball Copa América, tips off this Friday in Nicaragua, marking the most significant international sporting event in the country’s...

End of Air Canada Strike Brings Relief for Costa Rica-Bound Passengers

Air Canada flight attendants ended their strike Tuesday after reaching a tentative agreement with the airline, paving the way for flights to resume gradually....

El Salvador Schools Enforce Military-Style Uniform Inspections

El Salvador's public schools will start enforcing daily inspections for students' uniforms and haircuts from August 20, as ordered by the new education minister,...

Costa Rica Issues Green Weather Alert as Heavy Rains Expected

The National Emergency Commission (CNE) has declared a green weather alert across Costa Rica due to the expected increase in rainfall over the coming...

Panama Union Files Lawsuits Against Chiquita Over Mass Layoffs

Panama’s President, José Raúl Mulino, will meet in Brazil with U.S. banana company Chiquita Brands in search of an agreement for the company to...

Earthquake Shakes Costa Rica’s Central Valley

An earthquake shook Costa Rica early Friday morning. The tremor occurred at 12:45 a.m. with a magnitude of 4.4. Its epicenter was located 1...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica