Common Cup - Monteverde, Costa Rica

Recently my wife and I visited Costa Rica as a partial honeymoon/vow renewal ceremony effort. We visited lots of great places and met lots of warm, friendly Ticos. But I just have to share one of our favorite places that we just stumbled upon in Monteverde, also known as The Cloud Forest, located in Santa Elena, Costa Rica. While staying in the tiny village of Santa Elena we discovered a place called Common Cup (next to the serpentarium, near town). Common Cup is a non-profit organization run by an American named Ken Lander that makes free cups of coffee for anyone who visits. The organization sells home-grown beans by the pound that are roasted on-site by Ken and his family. In fact, Ken and his family grow the beans on their farm locally and manage the whole coffee process, start-to-finish, even brewing and making the cup of coffee right before your eyes. Now, I may be a little bias, but I think that the fresh coffee I drank at Common Cup might have been the best coffee I’ve ever had.

Now here’s the best part (aside from the delicious coffee): Approximately $3.50 of every $8.00 pound of coffee that is sold goes back into the local community of Santa Elena to promote youth programs and other community programs. How fantastic is that?!

I mentioned earlier that I may be a little biased, and here’s why. First, after meeting Ken, his wife Yami and his family I felt right at home. Ken is like that friendly, loveable uncle who makes everything seem magical and fun. My wife and I found ourselves returning every day to go visit with Ken at Common Cup not only to drink coffee but also because we enjoyed the company. We stayed in a place just a few blocks from Common Cup so we could literally smell the coffee brewing at 1pm every afternoon, and we let our noses just lead us there. And second, what’s not to love about sitting in the world famous Cloud Forest of Costa Rica drinking fresh brewed coffee with a master coffee grower/roaster?!

When you visit Monteverde don’t forget to call on Common Cup! You’ll be glad you did. And also check CC out on Facebook: http://www.hs.facebook.com/pages/Monteverde-Costa-Rica/The-Common-Cup-Community-Coffee-House-and-Roastery/400967337008?v=photos

Martin Whitton is a wedding photojournalist who makes his home in Austin, Texas. If you would like to view more photos from Costa Rica, visit: http://www.mwwphoto.com/Family/Costa-Rica-2010/