Where festive flavor meets global coffee innovation.
Coffee Stories
Hacienda Alsacia: Where the Future of Coffee Begins
Each year, Starbucks Reserve® Christmas coffee arrives as a celebration of flavor and craft. But behind the festive blend lies an even deeper story. At the heart of it is Hacienda Alsacia, the first Starbucks-owned coffee farm. Nestled on a lush Costa Rican hillside, Hacienda Alsacia is where innovation and farmer support come together to help shape what’s next.
A Blend That Begins with Purpose
Starbucks Reserve® Christmas coffee combines Sumatra Aceh and Aged Sumatra coffees with hand-selected beans from Hacienda Alsacia. While each origin contributes to the coffee’s unique flavor with notes of citrus, herbs, and baking spices, Alsacia plays a central role. It’s not just a source of coffee; it’s a symbol of Starbucks investment in helping support farmer resilience and the future of coffee.
Hacienda Alsacia: A Living Lab for Coffee Innovation
Purchased in 2013, Hacienda Alsacia is home to more than 800,000 coffee trees across 240 hectares. It’s also the base for Starbucks Global Coffee Research and Development team and the Costa Rica Farmer Support Center, one of ten worldwide. Here, agronomists and researchers work side by side to study coffee cultivation and explore new approaches to growing coffee.
Climate change is creating new challenges for coffee farmers, affecting crop quality, productivity, and economic stability. At Hacienda Alsacia, researchers and agronomists are working together to help explore practical solutions that may support a more sustainable future for coffee and the communities who grow it.
Their work includes:
Working to develop climate-resilient arabica varietals: Out of 600 varietal lines, nearly 30 meet Starbucks criteria for quality, productivity, and climate resilience.
Composting coffee cherry pulp to enrich soil and reduce waste.
Using drones and innovative farm mechanizations to help farmers increase efficiency and reduce costs.
Creating new varietals is meticulous work that demands patience. Agronomists select promising plants, establish a plot and then wait. And wait. And wait. It takes 10 to 15 years to see which are the strongest and most productive.
A Holiday Coffee with a Deeper Story
When you sip Starbucks Reserve® Christmas coffee, you’re tasting more than a seasonal blend. You’re experiencing the result of years of research, collaboration, and care. Hacienda Alsacia’s washed coffee adds a bright, sweetness to the blend, balancing the bold, savory notes of Sumatra Aceh and Aged Sumatra. It’s a cup that reflects the Starbucks Reserve philosophy, where every coffee is chosen for its flavor and its story.
