We’ve had the opportunity to tour several coffee companies throughout our time in Costa Rica, each with its own individual mission or values that sets it apart. Today, we toured Coope Dota and its Cafe Privilegios, both of which are centered on bettering the surrounding community. Coope Dota is a cooperative, thus allowing smaller farmers to have an opportunity in the market. This is the main advantage of following this business model as opposed to a traditional company; no matter their size or market influence, farmers are all paid the same. To motivate farmers to provide the best quality coffee, there are several certifications a farmer can have under Coope Dota, and pay increases under each certification. Under conventional certification, there aren’t many requirements, so any farmer can get this. AA certification is higher, with mostly mature beans; AAA certification is the highest with 100% mature beans. If a farmer doesn’t meet their certification requirements, they aren’t paid at that price for those coffee bags. The main disadvantage of a cooperative is that if there is only one around, a small farmer has no option but to go to them to sell their beans. Thus, they have no choice but to accept the prices and conditions offered.

Without the cooperative, the community of Santa Maria de Dota would most likely not be as economically successful as it now is. It provides opportunities for over 900 families in the area that they would otherwise not have access to, given that its much more difficult for them to have a stake in the market. In particular, Cafe Privilegios provides training and education to local youth, especially in the high school, so that they have job opportunities coming out. There is a barista school where they can learn how to prepare all coffee drinks, which provides a skill they can use for a career.