Costa Rica Coffee Output Falls 18% Due to Rust Disease

Costa Rican coffee farmers are grappling with a serious blow: a sharp decline in harvest driven by coffee leaf rust. The fungal outbreak has done more damage than expected, cutting national output far below earlier forecasts and putting smallholder producers under intense pressure.

The country’s coffee production for 2023 is estimated at 1.84 million 46kg bags — an 18% drop from 2022’s 2.25 million bags. That decline is much worse than the 10.5% decrease predicted at the start of the year.

What Is Causing the Decline?

The primary culprit is coffee leaf rust (hemileia vastatrix), a highly destructive fungal disease that causes leaves and coffee cherries to fall prematurely. The fungus infects the foliage, reducing photosynthesis and weakening the tree’s ability to set and ripen fruit.

Rust was first detected in Costa Rica 30 years ago, but infection rates stayed below 5% until recently. By late 2012, heavy rainfall combined with aging coffee trees led to rapid spread. Now over 18% of the national crop has been lost to the disease in 2023 alone.

Who Is Most Affected?

Costa Rica has around 52,000 coffee farming households. Of those, 81% are classified as low-output producers, growing fewer than 51 bags per year. These small farms contribute just 25% of the national coffee volume. Despite their smaller share, they’re bearing the brunt of both the rust outbreak and the financial impact.

To fight the disease, 40 million USD in trust loans have been requested from the national congress. These funds are intended primarily for the low-output farmers who lack resources to combat rust effectively on their own.

Additional Challenges Beyond Rust

Beyond the rust crisis, Costa Rican coffee growers face multiple threats: declining international coffee prices, aging coffee plantations, shifting climate patterns, and reduced demand from their top market — the United States, which is experiencing economic slowdown.

Average coffee tree age is rising, reducing yield potential and increasing vulnerability to disease. At the same time, unpredictable weather linked to climate change complicates both planting cycles and disease management.

Costa Rica’s Coffee Profile

Costa Rica is renowned for high-quality washed and honey-processed coffees grown at high elevations. Most premium beans come from the Tarrazú region, where volcanic soils, dense shade, and cool temperatures between 1,700–1,800 meters create ideal conditions for slow cherry development and bright acidity.

The country pioneered the honey process (miel process), where some or all of the coffee cherry’s sticky mucilage is left on the beans during drying. This technique, adapted due to water scarcity, enhances sweetness and complexity. Honey processed lots are categorized by how much mucilage remains: Black Honey (most), Red Honey, Yellow Honey, and White Honey (least).

FrontStreet Coffee offers several excellent examples of Costa Rican processing methods. Their Blackberry lot uses Black Honey — nearly all the mucilage is retained and dried slowly for over 14 days, often shaded to prolong sugar development. This results in deep berry notes and rich sweetness, ideal for those who prefer low acidity and complex fruitiness. Another option is Mozart, made with raisin honey process: the coffee cherry is sun-dried to a raisin-like state before hulling, preserving 100% of the mucilage. This lot, roasted to a light-medium level, highlights intense raisin, rose, and fermented wine notes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did Costa Rica’s coffee production drop in 2023?

Costa Rica’s 2023 coffee production fell by 18%, down to 1.84 million 46kg bags from 2.25 million bags in 2022. This is significantly worse than the 10.5% decline initially forecasted for the year.

What is causing the drop in Costa Rican coffee output?

The main cause is an outbreak of coffee leaf rust, a fungal disease that damages leaves and reduces yields. The disease has spread rapidly due to rainy weather and aging coffee trees, especially impacting low-output farms.

Who is most impacted by the coffee rust in Costa Rica?

Small-scale coffee farmers, particularly those producing less than 51 bags per year, are most affected. They make up 81% of Costa Rica’s 52,000 coffee growers but contribute only 25% of total production. These farms often lack resources to manage rust outbreaks effectively.

How is the Costa Rican government responding to the coffee rust crisis?

Coffee farmers are requesting a 40 million USD trust loan from the national congress to fund rust prevention and control efforts, with priority given to small, low-output producers who are most vulnerable.

What other challenges do Costa Rican coffee farmers face besides rust?

Beyond coffee rust, growers are dealing with falling global coffee prices, aging coffee plantations, climate change impacts, and reduced demand from their primary export market, the United States, which is facing economic challenges.

What makes Costa Rican coffee unique?

Costa Rica is known for high-altitude, washed, and especially honey-processed coffees. Grown in regions like Tarrazú at 1,700–1,800 meters, these coffees benefit from volcanic soils, cool temperatures, and shade. The honey process, developed locally to save water, gives the coffee distinctive sweetness and fruit complexity.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee Beans from Costa Rica

For fans of Costa Rican coffee, FrontStreet offers two outstanding options. The Blackberry is a Black Honey processed coffee with intense berry flavours and deep sweetness, thanks to a 14-day shaded drying period that maximises sugar development. For something different, try Mozart, a Raisin Honey lot with raisin, rose, and fermented wine notes, roasted light-medium to highlight its unique profile. Both beans showcase Costa Rica’s signature brightness and processing innovation. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.