At the beginning of the 19th century, coffee production was in its early stages in America. Two pioneers, Alejo C. Jiménez (Costa Rica) and Wilhelm Kahle (Mexico), shared the same dream: “To produce the best coffee in the world” to satisfy the new demanding European gourmet market. They started working together to make the dream a reality. This is how Volcán Azul was born.
Today, descendants of these visionary farmers still produce coffee within the same ideals of excellence and top quality that inspired their ancestors. They also focus on conserving natural resources through the acquisition of extensions of rainforest for protection and conservation.
The production process starts with planting coffee trees on highly fertile volcanic soil above 1,400 masl (SHB) in three regions of Costa Rica: on the slopes of Barva and Poás Volcano in Central and West Valley, and in the Saints region.
F.C.J. Volcán Azul (Gran Reserva)
Comes from a limited selection of exclusive micro and nano batches with unique exotic qualities from varieties such as Caturra, Geisha, Kenya SL-28, Villasarchi, Sarchimor, Mocca, among others. These are processed using washed, honey, or natural methods.
Hacienda Colima
A family brand since the mid-1800s, also featuring microlots from the Central Valley farm.
Volcancito (TZU)
From the region of the Saints area with true characteristics of Tarrazú.
Volcancito
From the region of West and Central Valley farms, offering a well-balanced, sweet cup.
Meet the Producer
Alejo Castro Kahle is a sixth-generation coffee producer and exporter. His favorite childhood memories were on the coffee plantation and in the mill, always accompanying his father. He now leads Volcán Azul with a focus on excellence, innovation, and sustainability.
Notable Aspects of Volcán Azul Farms
- High-quality standards: Grows diverse varieties like Gesha, SL28, Mokka, Caturra, Villa Sarchi, H1, San Isidro, using innovative processing methods (natural anaerobic, honey, red honey).
- Conservation measures: Covers ~300 hectares, with over 200 hectares of protected forest. In the 1980s, Alejo’s father acquired 1,500 hectares of rainforest in the Osa Peninsula to conserve biodiversity and mitigate global warming.
- Sustainable agriculture: Avoids insecticides, encourages beneficial bees, rotates crops, and plants grasses to reduce erosion and protect roots.
- Climate challenges: Costa Rican farmers, including Alejo, face faster spread of coffee leaf rust (roya), increasing management demands and production costs.