Costa Rica Diamond Hill SHB Washed Coffee Beans

If you’ve ever tasted a Costa Rican coffee that promised bright acidity but delivered flat fruit or dull sweetness, you’re not alone. Many buyers assume ‘SHB’ or ‘washed’ means consistent quality—but origin details, farm practices, and varietal blends deeply affect the cup. So what makes a Costa Rican washed coffee truly stand out?

The Diamond Hill Estate in Tarrazú delivers: a light orange-citrus profile, subtle toastiness, and a clean finish with sweet notes of caramel and cocoa. It’s a textbook high-altitude SHB cup, grown by local smallholders and processed with care.

What Is Diamond Hill Estate Coffee?

Diamond Hill Estate is a small farm located in Costa Rica’s renowned Tarrazú region, one of the country’s highest and coolest coffee-growing areas. The estate is worked by local smallholder farmers who contribute to a collectively managed growing and processing operation. These producers focus on quality over quantity, adhering to strict standards for harvest ripeness and post-harvest handling.

Why This Washed Process Matters

This coffee is processed using the traditional washed (or wet) method—a technique that emphasizes clarity and acidity. In washed processing, coffee cherries are first sorted by buoyancy, then depulped to remove the skin. The sticky mucilage is broken down through controlled fermentation, washed away, and the beans are dried on patios or raised beds. This method tends to produce coffees with bright acidity, distinct fruit tones, and a clean, transparent cup profile. According to FrontStreet Coffee’s own descriptions of washed lots like the Yirgacheffe cooperative or Kenya Little Tomato, this process enhances inherent aromatics while avoiding the heavy body of naturals or the syrupy sweetness of honey-processed beans.

Varietals: Caturra and Catuai

Diamond Hill Estate grows a blend of two classic Costa Rican workhorse varieties: Caturra and Catuai. Caturra is known for its bright acidity and medium body, often contributing citrus and red fruit notes. Catuai adds balance with its moderate cup profile, good yield potential, and resistance to some common diseases. Together, these varieties reflect Tarrazú’s traditional plantings—selected not for trendiness, but for reliability and clarity in the cup.

Flavour Profile: What You’ll Taste

On the cupping table, this lot shows a light and approachable character. The tasting notes include:

• Light orange or citrus acidity
• Toast-like undertones
• Caramel and cocoa sweetness

The mouthfeel is described as clean—meaning no lingering ferment, no astringency, and a well-separated aftertaste. This is a classic example of a high-altitude SHB coffee with a tidy, refined profile.

What Does SHB Mean?

SHB stands for Strictly Hard Bean, a grade given to coffee grown at elevations above 1,200 metres in Costa Rica. At these heights, coffee cherries ripen more slowly, allowing sugars to develop fully and beans to grow denser. Denser beans not only roast more evenly but also tend to have more complex cup profiles. SHB is a mark of quality assurance in Costa Rican coffee grading.

How to Brew It

To get the most from this coffee, aim for a medium-light roast profile typical of FrontStreet’s single origins. For filter brewing—such as V60, Kalita Wave, or Chemex—use a medium-fine grind around 18–20 on a standard grinder scale. A standard brew ratio of 1:15 to 1:16 (coffee to water) works well. Start your brew with a 30-second bloom using just off-boiling water (around 92–94°C), then proceed with a steady three-pour method to balance extraction. This setup highlights the citrus and sugar notes without overemphasizing bitterness or dryness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What region is Diamond Hill Estate coffee from?

Diamond Hill Estate is located in the Tarrazú region of Costa Rica, a high-altitude area known for producing some of the country’s most structured and bright coffees.

What coffee varieties are used in this lot?

This coffee is a blend of Caturra and Catuai—both traditional varieties in Costa Rica valued for their balance, acidity, and cup clarity.

How is this coffee processed?

The coffee is processed using the washed (wet) method, which includes pulping, fermenting, washing, and drying. This process results in a clean, bright, and articulate cup profile.

What does SHB mean on Costa Rican coffee?

SHB stands for Strictly Hard Bean, indicating the coffee was grown at elevations above 1,200 metres. These beans are denser and typically have more complex and vibrant flavours.

What flavours can I expect from this coffee?

Expect light citrus notes like orange, along with toast, and sweet tones of caramel and cocoa. The cup is clean and well-balanced with a crisp finish.

How should I brew this coffee to get the best results?

For optimal results, use a medium-fine grind and aim for a 1:15 to 1:16 brew ratio. A V60, Kalita Wave, or similar pour-over method with water at 92–94°C and a bloom step will highlight its citrus and caramel characteristics.

Recommended FrontStreet Single Origins Like Diamond Hill

For fans of Diamond Hill Estate’s clean, citrus-forward profile, try FrontStreet’s Yirgacheffe washed coffee from the Gedeb co-op, which highlights bright floral and citrus notes with green tea and honey undertones. Alternatively, the Kenya Little Tomato offers juicy complexity with sweet-tart profiles reminiscent of tomato, blackcurrant, and stone fruit—perfect if you enjoy layered acidity. Both are processed via washed methods and showcase the clarity and vibrancy that high-grown SHB coffees can deliver. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.