SAN ISIDRO LABRADOR GEISHA / COSTA RICA

HACIENDA SAN ISIDRO LABRADOR

Hacienda San Isidro Labrador is a family-owned micro-mill located in the highlands of Santa Maria de Dota in the Tarrazu region. Joel Monge Naranjo, born in 1945 as the third generation of coffee farmers in Tarrazu, has dedicated his life to coffee production and possesses deep knowledge of Tarrazu coffee history. In 2011, as a member of the Los Grandes de Copey producer group in Copey, he fully embraced specialty coffee production, developing his farm into one that won the Cup of Excellence. Joel's exceptional cultivation techniques for the Geisha variety, in particular, brought about this success, making his name widely known.

A Renowned Farm, a Regular at the Cup of Excellence

Despite achieving many accolades, Joel's passion was unceasing. He continued to search for excellent land to produce even finer coffee, and in 2015, he purchased land in Santa Maria de Dota at an altitude of 1950-2000m. Not only that, but to fully commit to coffee production on the new land, he sold his previous farm, leading to the birth of the new mill, San Isidro Labrador. Abandoning the significant achievements he made with the group to pursue his dream was a monumental decision. He then planted Geisha, Typica, Bourbon, and Catuai varieties across five farm plots, pouring all his accumulated experience into this new farm.
In 2020, San Isidro Labrador made its debut at the Cup of Excellence and impressively secured second place. Since then, it has received the Cup of Excellence award for six consecutive years, winning the COE in 2023. Although the COE judging has recently been divided into three categories, the farm has achieved astounding results, securing a top-3 position in all but the 7th and 9th places in 2021. In the most recent 2025 COE, it amazed many in the coffee industry by placing 6th in the Washed category, 2nd in the Honey & Natural category, and 2nd and 3rd in the Experimental category.

Located at an altitude of 2000m in Santa Maria de Dota, San Isidro Labrador prides itself on meticulous management and care from the tiny new shoots that become seedlings all the way to harvest, maximizing the benefits of its high-altitude location, drastic temperature changes, and rich soil. Every detail is infused with Joel's accumulated coffee production know-how. Currently, Joel, together with his fourth-generation successor, Matias, is passing on and developing this tradition, mindset, and expertise to the next generation.
He states, "The dedication to coffee, and the synergy of all elements of cultivation methods and environment, form one of Costa Rica's best terroirs, creating an environment that maximizes the flavor of Geisha. It is precisely because we produce coffee with unsparing effort, dedication, and unwavering commitment that the extraordinary and exceptional qualities of the varietal are expressed, creating coffee that continues to captivate many people, and indeed myself. Sharing the coffee of Hacienda San Isidro Labrador with the world is our joy and our pride."