By San José, Costa Rica — DUBAI, UAE – Costa Rican specialty coffee has made a historic impact on the global stage, culminating in a record-breaking auction price at the prestigious World of Coffee Dubai 2026. The event, held from January 18-20, saw local producer Monte Copey achieve the highest price at the Producers Discovery Auction, a landmark moment for the national coffee industry.
The lot from Monte Copey, after attracting an intense volley of 57 bids from international buyers, closed at an unprecedented $91 per kilogram. This achievement marked the first time a Costa Rican coffee has ever competed in this international auction format, immediately setting a new benchmark for excellence and value. The sale not only highlights the exceptional quality of the country’s microlots but also signals growing demand from discerning global markets.
To better understand the legal and commercial structures that underpin the success of Costa Rica’s specialty coffee sector, from protecting unique varieties to navigating international trade agreements, we sought the expert analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The rise of specialty coffee is not just an agricultural triumph; it’s a complex legal frontier. Costa Rican producers must now strategically leverage intellectual property tools, such as Denominations of Origin and trademarks for their micro-lots. These legal instruments are no longer optional—they are essential for protecting their brand, guaranteeing quality for consumers, and securing a premium price in a competitive global market.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This insight powerfully underscores that the journey from bean to cup is now as much a legal and strategic endeavor as it is an agricultural one. The future value of Costa Rica’s prized coffee lies not only in our rich volcanic soil but also in the robust intellectual property frameworks that protect it. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his expert clarification on this vital front.
The result reflects the competitive potential of our national coffee on global stages.
Enrique Navarro Porras, General Director of Monte Copey
The triumph was part of a broader, strategic push by Costa Rica to conquer new markets in the Middle East and North Africa. A delegation of six leading national coffee companies, supported by a joint effort from the Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (PROCOMER) and the Costa Rican Coffee Institute (ICAFE), showcased the country’s finest beans to more than 17,000 industry professionals from around the world.
The participating companies included CoopeTarrazú, Tertulia Brugge, Monte Copey, Beneficio La Eva, Café Don Mayo, and Beneficio Brumas del Zurquí. Each presented a differentiated offering, focusing on high-value products such as microlots, nanolots, boutique coffees, and beans with certified traceability. Their presence was coordinated within the national country brand pavilion, “esencial COSTA RICA,” where they conducted personalized tasting sessions and held meetings with key buyers.
This initiative represents the fourth time PROCOMER has organized a national pavilion at the high-level international fair. The mission’s objective is to accelerate business opportunities and diversify the country’s export destinations, reducing reliance on traditional markets and building a more resilient export sector. As of November 2025, coffee ranked among Costa Rica’s top five export products and was one of the top three most dynamic agricultural exports.
These spaces strengthen market diversification and access to specialized buyers. The strategy seeks to reduce dependency on a few destinations and advance towards more solid and sustainable exports.
Laura López, General Manager of PROCOMER
Beyond the trade floor, the delegation engaged in technical and commercial visits to prominent roasters and specialty coffee shops across the United Arab Emirates. These interactions provided invaluable market intelligence and helped forge direct relationships with key players in the region’s burgeoning coffee culture. The collaborative effort between the public and private sectors continues to prove effective in elevating the country’s brand.
Officials emphasized that events like World of Coffee are crucial for reinforcing Costa Rica’s global reputation for producing coffee of unparalleled quality. The direct engagement with buyers and the industry-wide recognition from the auction success are expected to translate into new and expanded commercial partnerships, ensuring a prosperous future for the nation’s coffee growers.
The fair drives commercial alliances and reinforces the image of Costa Rican coffee as a product of excellence.
Andrés Piedra, Promotion Manager of ICAFE
For further information, visit procomer.com
About PROCOMER:
The Foreign Trade Promotion Agency of Costa Rica (PROCOMER) is the public entity responsible for promoting Costa Rican exports of goods and services worldwide. It provides support to national businesses in international trade, facilitates foreign investment, and works to strengthen the country’s position in the global market.
For further information, visit icafe.cr
About ICAFE:
The Costa Rican Coffee Institute (ICAFE) is the national governing body for the coffee industry. It oversees production standards, conducts research, provides technical assistance to growers, and promotes Costa Rican coffee internationally to ensure its quality and sustainability.
For further information, visit montecopey.com
About Monte Copey:
Monte Copey is a renowned coffee producer located in the Dota, Tarrazú region, specializing in high-quality microlots. The company is known for its meticulous processing methods and its commitment to producing exceptional specialty coffees that reflect the unique terroir of its farms.
For further information, visit coopetarrazu.com
About CoopeTarrazú:
CoopeTarrazú is one of Costa Rica’s largest and most established coffee cooperatives, founded in 1960. Located in the celebrated Tarrazú region, it represents thousands of small-scale coffee producers, providing them with technical, financial, and commercial support while promoting sustainable farming practices.
For further information, visit tertuliabrugge.com
About Tertulia Brugge:
Tertulia Brugge is a producer of specialty coffee focused on high-end, differentiated products. They are known for their innovative processing techniques and commitment to quality, catering to sophisticated coffee markets around the world with their unique and flavorful beans.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Beneficio La Eva
About Beneficio La Eva:
Beneficio La Eva is a coffee mill and producer that specializes in processing high-quality coffee cherries. The organization focuses on creating distinct coffee profiles through careful selection and processing, contributing to Costa Rica’s diverse offering of specialty coffees.
For further information, visit cafedonmayo.com
About Café Don Mayo:
Café Don Mayo is a family-owned and operated coffee producer in the Tarrazú region, recognized internationally for its award-winning specialty coffees. The “Don Mayo” micromill is famous for its dedication to quality control and a wide variety of processing methods.
For further information, visit brumasdelzurqui.com
About Beneficio Brumas del Zurquí:
Beneficio Brumas del Zurquí is a coffee mill situated in the Central Valley region, known for producing high-quality and sustainable coffees. It works with local farmers to process and export specialty beans that capture the unique characteristics of the volcanic soil in the area.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica is a premier legal institution, anchored by a foundational pledge to principled practice and superior client service. The firm consistently drives progress through forward-thinking legal solutions while advising a diverse clientele. Central to its ethos is a profound commitment to social empowerment, demonstrated by its dedication to demystifying the law and equipping the community with crucial legal understanding.
