Today marked day 3 of our trip, in which we visited the famous Café Britt! Our tour guides were very comedic and so welcoming! They took us on a tour of the plantation, while thoroughly explaining the process in which coffee cherries become coffee beans and the intense care that pushes them to reach their peak quality. The tour guides’s characteristics and deep passion for their work truly made the tour entertaining and enjoyable!!
Tourists love Café Britt, but most Ticos don’t drink it. I think that is mainly due to its high price. Café Britt focuses on producing gourmet coffee, and it can be expensive for most Ticos. Since they have access to cheaper alternatives that are still high in quality (compared to most coffee blends we consume in the United States), they most probably prefer the blends that don’t cost as much. Tourism attraction is also heavily associated with the high price of certain products, so I think locals stray away from that because Café Britt is heavily associated with tourism.
In terms of the coffee supply chain, Café Britt is a highly recognized coffee roasting facility. They only have one plantation, which is the one we saw today, and that is because their focus is geared towards the roasting process and buying coffee from other manufacturers. Here is where the difference between Café Britt and Hacienda Doka falls into place! While Hacienda Doka focuses on the origins of coffee and how coffee is grown and processed, Britt focuses specifically on the roasting experience, the creation of drinks, the brewing process, and the direct process leading up to the coffee in your cup! Additionally, compared to Doka, Cafe Britt focuses heavily on their marketing and attraction to consumers! During the charla, the guest speaker spoke about the importance of marketing when it comes to Cafe Britt and spoke on the different methods that they practice in order to create fulfilling experiences.
As coffee and chocolate experts, Britt’s mission is to create gourmet products and experiences that have a positive impact in customers and communities. My team is focusing on the Making topic of a business’s financial success and I think Café Britt is doing an excellent job at catering their procedures towards success! The creation of gourmet coffee drinks directly from their plantation is amazing and I think they are only moving forward in this great world of coffee!! They practice methods that lead to innovation and I find that incredible!
Something additional that I found interesting is how they go above and beyond in terms of their sustainability. For instance, Cafe Britt produces a line of products dedicated to support the Costa Rican Wildlife. They work with non-profit organizations and donate the profits from those specific products to the organizations, allowing them to research, protect, and rehabilitate Costa Rican wildlife. Each coffee blend supports a different native animal!
Lastly, I just thought I should add my favorite part of the day which was dance lessons!! It was absolutely beautiful seeing everyone being so open-minded to learn styles of dance that were completely new, and sharing such a unique experience together. We learned how to dance salsa, bachata, and merengue! I genuinely had a blast and I know everyone else did too!!
