Alejo Castro Kahle is the heart and soul of Volcán Azul, a world-renowned coffee estate in Costa Rica's volcanic highlands. As a fifth-generation coffee farmer, he masterfully blends tradition with innovation, making sustainability and quality the cornerstones of his craft.
The story begins in the mid-19th century when two European families pioneered coffee businesses in the Americas: the Spanish Castro-Jimenez family in Costa Rica and the German Kahle family in Mexico's Chiapas region. Today, Alejo represents the fifth generation of the Castro-Kahle family, continuing their century-old legacy of coffee cultivation on the slopes of Poás Volcano in central Costa Rica.
Volcán Azul encompasses three farms—two in the Central and West valleys and one near Tarrazú—along with a milling facility. Under Alejo's leadership, the team focuses intensively on coffee quality and consistency. Research into coffee varieties is paramount, especially as Costa Rica faces climate change challenges. Coffee plants, being naturally delicate, are particularly vulnerable to weather extremes and climate shifts. These conditions can trigger diseases like coffee leaf rust—a challenge Alejo has faced firsthand, along with many other Central American producers.
- Origin: Costa Rica
- Process: Natural Anaerobic
- Variety: Caturra
- Tasting Notes: Cherry, dried fruits, cacao nibs, winey
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