Doka Estate Coffee Farm
Quick Facts
- Location : Sabanilla de Alajuela
- Altitude : 4,570 feet above sea level
- Area : 450 acres
- Hours : 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Telephone : 2449-6623
- Entrance Fee : $20-$29
A working coffee farm since 1908, the Doka Estate has been growing coffee in Costa Rica for more than 100 years. Today, the farm uses the same century-old water mill imported from England to power their processing plant - a rustic building recently designated a historical and architectural heritage site by the Costa Rican government.
read more closeFor three generation the Vargas family has owned and worked the land of the Doka Estate giving the award-winning coffee its brand name, Tres Generaciones (Three generations).
Coffee Tour
Doka Estate gives one of Costa Rica's most popular coffee tours. The tour begins at the seedbed, where visitors learn about the farm's history, the coffee trees and the planting process. If the plants' fruit is ripe, guests can pick a few coffee berries before visiting the water mill, processing plant and roasting room.
The tour's highlight is the coffee tasting. Doka Estate produces eight coffee blends – Peaberry Estate, French Roast, European Roast, Espresso Roast, House Blend, Breakfast Blend, Decaf, and Organic – that range from smooth to bold.
Doka's most common coffee tour is the "Breakfast Blend" excursion, which includes round-trip transportation from the San Jose area, breakfast, tour and a coffee-picking contest (Aug.-April). Tours are offered at 9 a.m., 11 a. m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Facilities:
In addition to an on-site restaurant and souvenir shop, the estate also has a bonsai and a butterfly garden that are included in the coffee tour entrance fee. The bonsai garden, landscaped with a variety of orchids and other colorful plants, has more than 250 bonsai trees while the nearby butterfly garden is home to 15 vibrant species.
Weather:
Daily temperatures range from 50-75º F. Morning tours are less subject to rain, but take a raincoat or umbrella in case it rains.
Getting There:
Car: From the courthouse in downtown Alajuela, drive five miles north toward Poas Volcano. At San Isidro de Alajuela, turn left at the Catholic Church onto Sabanilla. Then go 2 miles to the central soccer field in Sabanilla. Turn right and continue 1.25 miles to the Doka Estate.
Bus: Public buses run between Alajuela and La Sabanilla every hour. Take a $3.50 taxi ride from the last bus stop to the Doka Estate or walk for the last mile.