Costa Rica Francisco Mena

From Costa Rica’s Lourdes de Naranjo region, Francisco Mena’s Lactico Honey is both innovative and expressive. Grown at high elevations and crafted through his pioneering lactic fermentation process, it delivers notes of White Grape, Plum, and Natural Wine, offering a cup that balances ripe fruit with refined structure.

Francisco Mena is a longtime Farmlevel partner and one of Costa Rica’s most respected producers. At his farm, Sumava de Lourdes, he grows many varieties, including Caturra, SL-28, Gesha, and Villa Sarchi, all thriving in the unique microclimates of Lourdes de Naranjo. These conditions yield dense, uniform seeds that give Mena the foundation to explore both classical and experimental approaches to coffee.

A hallmark of his work is his proprietary “lactic” process, designed to intensify complex fruit flavors. After harvest, whole cherries are sealed in tanks where native microbes transform abundant sugars into vibrant, layered flavors. Once fermentation is complete, the cherries are de-pulped, washed, and carefully dried on raised beds. This meticulous attention to detail allows each lot to shine with precision and depth.

Mena’s dedication extends beyond his farm to his exporting company, Exclusive Coffees, where a trained lab team ensures every lot meets rigorous quality standards. His ethos of innovation, integrity, and consistency has made him a cornerstone of Verve’s menu year after year. Lactico Honey is not only a reflection of his processing mastery but also of his passion for pushing Costa Rican coffee forward.