How to Brew Costa Rica Las Lajas Natural: A Step-by-Step Guide
By Onyx Coffee Lab | Published: 2026-09-03
Category: How-to Guides
Learn to brew Costa Rica Las Lajas Natural coffee with a simple pour over recipe. Get step-by-step instructions, tips, and common mistakes to avoid.
Quick Answer
To brew Costa Rica Las Lajas Natural, use a pour over method with a 1:16 coffee-to-water ratio, water just off the boil (around 200°F), and a total brew time of about 3 minutes. This highlights the coffee's natural sweetness and fruity notes. Start with a medium-fine grind and adjust from there.
Costa Rica Las Lajas Natural is a standout coffee, known for its vibrant, fruit-forward profile. The natural processing method—drying the coffee cherries whole—gives this coffee a pronounced sweetness and complexity that shines through in a pour over.
In this guide, you'll learn the exact steps to brew it as a pour over, including the best grind size, water temperature, and pouring technique. We'll also cover common mistakes to avoid, so you can get the most out of each batch.
Why Pour Over for Natural Processed Coffee?
Pour over brewing is ideal for natural processed coffees because it highlights their delicate aromatics and clean acidity. The even extraction from a gooseneck kettle and controlled pour helps bring out the coffee's fruity notes without over-extracting bitterness.
If you don't have a pour over setup, you can adapt this recipe for other methods like a French press or AeroPress, but pour over is the best way to experience the full nuance of this coffee.
- Use a gooseneck kettle for controlled pouring.
- A medium-fine grind is a good starting point.
Ingredients and Equipment You'll Need
Here's what you'll need: 20 grams of Costa Rica Las Lajas Natural coffee, 320 grams of filtered water, a pour over dripper (like a V60 or Kalita Wave), a paper filter, a gooseneck kettle, and a digital scale.
Preheat your kettle and rinse the paper filter with hot water to remove any paper taste and warm up your dripper.
Step-by-Step Brewing Guide
- Step 1: Boil and Prepare Water: Heat 500ml of filtered water to about 200°F (just off boiling). This temperature is ideal for natural processed coffees to avoid over-extraction and bitterness. Checkpoint: If your water is boiling, let it sit for 30 seconds before starting.
- Step 2: Grind Your Coffee: Weigh 20 grams of coffee and grind it to a medium-fine consistency, similar to sea salt. This size balances extraction time and flavor clarity. Mistake to avoid: A grind that's too fine will clog the filter and make the brew bitter; too coarse will under-extract and taste sour.
- Step 3: Rinse the Filter: Place a paper filter in your dripper and rinse it with hot water. This removes paper residue and preheats the brewer, ensuring a clean cup. Discard the rinse water. Checkpoint: The dripper should be warm to the touch before adding coffee.
- Step 4: Add Coffee and Bloom: Add the ground coffee to the filter, create a small well in the center, and pour 40 grams of water (double the coffee weight) in a circular motion. Let it bloom for 30 seconds to allow gases to escape. Mistake to avoid: Skipping the bloom can lead to uneven extraction and a flat-tasting cup.
- Step 5: Pour in Stages: Continue pouring in 3-4 stages, keeping the water level just below the dripper's rim. Aim for a total brew time of 3 minutes, including the bloom. Slow, even pours extract the best flavors. Checkpoint: If the brew finishes too fast (3:30), grind coarser.
- Step 6: Enjoy Your Cup: Once the water has drained through, remove the filter and give the coffee a gentle swirl in your carafe. Pour and enjoy the vibrant, sweet, and fruity notes of the Costa Rica Las Lajas Natural. Verdict: With practice, you'll dial in the perfect cup. Don't be afraid to adjust the grind or ratio to your taste.
Coffee and Gear We Mention
- Colombia Adrian Lasso Typica Mejorado: Esteemed for its intricate and unparalleled flavor profile, Typica Mejorado delights with vibrant notes of tropical fruits, underscored by a bright, lively acidity. Similar to Las Lajas, this coffee is also a single-origin with a complex profile—great if you enjoy exploring fruity, acidic coffees. Try it next if you want to compare.
- The Preserve - Sipper Straw Bottle 16oz: The Preserve Sipper Straw Bottle from Onyx Coffee Lab is a practical 16oz drinkware option for everyday use. Brew your pour over into this bottle for an easy, on-the-go cold coffee or to keep your hot brew insulated. It's a handy companion for your daily coffee ritual.
Brewing Costa Rica Las Lajas Natural as a pour over is a rewarding experience that brings out the coffee's signature sweetness and complexity. Follow these steps and adjust to your taste, and you'll enjoy a delicious cup every time. Experiment with your technique to find what you like best.
