COSTA RICA Hacienda Sonora Marselleza Natural

Processing: Natural
SCA Score: 86.5 points
Flavor profile: Wine-like taste with notes of ripe tropical fruits, black cherries, brown sugar, and dark chocolate

Hacienda Sonora is located at the foothills of the Poás Volcano in Costa Rica. The farm operates entirely on renewable energy generated by a hydroelectric system that transforms the power of fast-flowing rivers into electricity. This energy supplies both the wet and dry processing facilities and provides free electricity to everyone who lives and works on the farm.

Hacienda Sonora has its own milling facility, allowing the farm to maintain complete separation of lots according to variety and to create unique microlots. The mill is centrally located on the property, next to a traditional sugar cane mill that has been preserved intact for more than 150 years.

The farm and mill cover approximately 100 hectares. Around 45 hectares are dedicated to coffee cultivation under shade. The coffee plants are surrounded by exotic trees and native vegetation, creating a rich biodiversity system that supports soil health and maintains essential nutrients, helping the coffee cherries develop greater density, sweetness, and complexity.

The remaining land includes a 35-hectare protected natural forest reserve and 20 hectares dedicated to sugar cane cultivation, a crop that has been grown on Hacienda Sonora for more than 150 years.

Marsellesa is a hybrid variety from the Sarchimor family. Sarchimor plants are hybrids between Villa Sarchi,  a natural mutation of Bourbon, closely related to varieties such as Caturra and Pacas  and a coffee leaf rust-resistant hybrid originating from Timor-Leste.

Marsellesa represents a successful combination of Bourbon’s aromatic qualities, inherited through Villa Sarchi, and the disease resistance of Timor-Leste-derived genetics. This balance allows the variety to deliver both agricultural resilience and an expressive sensory profile, making it particularly suitable for specialty coffee production.