For me, Cafe Britt’s model does lift up Costa Rican culture and economy, but it also packages it in a way that’s meant for outside consumption. I felt like they were formed a little by their tourism, but they are smart with their marketing to ensure that Costa Rica’s identity is shown well. I was a little skeptical when the tour ended in a gift shop because it made it feel like a cash grab and they made us feel like we should buy something. With that being said, they do emphasis quality over quantity because they can’t compete with countries like Brazil who have significantly more land mass, so they need to compete with them by having better quality.
One thing that really stood out to me was the packaging of the coffee with animals. By purchasing a coffee with a bird or sloth, people are helping a cause towards those specific animals. This was the main reason why I did not see Cafe Britt as a company that is packaging their culture for outside consumption in a way that waters it down. Even though they are focusing on these profits, a portion of them is going to a good cause, and there is nothing more Costa Rican than that.