I am excited to go home and harass a stranger in line at Starbucks about the coffee making process (if I can still bear to drink the trash at Starbucks). I feel as though I could now write a book about coffee because I am so well versed in the topic. I probably won’t be…

In a small country like Costa Rica, there is a lot of competition amongst businesses to maintain consistent customers. These corporations must edge each other out in terms of affordable prices and quality products. In industries like coffee, Costa Rica produces large, high grade quantities. This means that for some farms that struggle to get their…

We can all agree on one thing: Pope Francis does not sit on a throne of lies. My point: he recently declared Costa Rica to produce the best coffee out of all the coffee on God’s green Earth. This title must hold some meaning for Costa Rica. With the many benefits that the caffeine bean has brought…

As a kid, one of my favorite activities was visiting my Grandpa’s family farm in St. Mary’s, Ohio. I think my Grandpa is proud to call himself a “farmer boy.” These visits gave me a sense of appreciation for all of the hard work that goes into the agriculture industry, as well as the simpler life…

Calling all Hollywood directors: I have a plot for the movie of a lifetime! In 1951, a group of Alabamians got fed up with the United States militarism and decided to relocate to Latin America. They ended up in a plot of land that is known today as Monteverde. A bunch of other stuff happened along…

One of the biggest aspects of Costa Rica that stand out to me are the trees. Theyhere are seriously cool, (is that what Pitt Business wanted me to get out of this trip)? They are so majestic; American trees just don’t come close. I guess I’ve soaked in more about Costa Rica than just their trees. I open…

In a series of episodes in Grey’s Anatomy, Merideth Grey revolutionizes medicine by 3D printing organs for sheep. Obviously Grey’s Anatomy is not a factual source by any means, but this case is a good example of how technology is rapidly changing the way things are being done in the global marketplace. In order to…

Café Britt entered the scene when coffee in Costa Rica was simply a commodity, but yet they were able to become the successful international corporation that they are today. How? Innovative thinking! Café Britt was the first brand in Costa Rica to transition coffee from a commodity to a luxury; from something generic to something that varies in taste…

A reoccurring theme throughout today’s lecture with Dr. Joaquín Lizano was that not everything is what it seems in Costa Rican history. Costa Rica has a perception of being the happiest country on Earth, but that is not necessarily the case. Dr. Lizano delved into several important historical events that formed the country that we are studying in…

Last night, in an attempt to make conversation with my Tico Parents on the drive to my Costa Rica home, I asked, “¿Viven en Heredia por todas sus vidas?” (Have you lived in Heredia for your whole lives?). They both answered, “sí.” I continued, “¿Les gusta aquí?” (Do you like it here?). My Mamma Tica proceeded…

In a time when climate change is one of the top concerns in the world, every country is pressured to make efforts towards becoming more green. With that being said, it is no surprise that Costa Rica is a leader in sustainability, especially considering that their economy relies heavily on agriculture and ecotourism. Not only do environmental initiatives put Costa…