I joined some other travelers that evening around a campfire sharing stories, eating S’mores and drinking hot tea, Abigail’s favorite. I spent my first night ‘camping’ in my hammock on the grounds of La Serrana Hostel in Solento. I awoke with the sun and a mist lingering with this view of the coffee region valley a mist through the valley with this view. After a french toast breakfast, Heidi’s favorite, I was ready to run off on another 4 hour tour of the area.

I joined Yamor, an Argentine/Israeli tourist also staying at the hostel for a tour of La Finca Don Elias, a rainforest certified coffee plantation. His grandson, Carlos, walked us through the plantation. He did a great job explaining the work involved in planting, growing and harvesting the coffee and answering our questions.
http://youtu.be/3CAmb-QXriM

He then showed us the process of preparing the beans. Herein lies the real flavor and properties of the coffee. The raw beans first pass through a pitting machine, then they are allowed to ferment for 1 hour before being placed in a dry room.
http://youtu.be/lvNKDG5ViJg

After drying for two weeks, they pass through another machine to be husked and are then roasted for 1 hour at a constant temperature. Now they are ready to be ground and brewed for the perfect cup!
http://youtu.be/ZFR4EghsNxU