Britt Coffee tour -- Stay Away!!!
 

Just a warning to all travelers to CR. The Britt coffee tour, so highly acclaimed in Fodor's book, was absolutely horrible. Go to Doka instead. Not only was it a waste of time but it was a positively dreadful experience. My wife and I forewent checking into Xandari early so that we could do the coffee tour. After a week of relaxing and lounging and some light adventure, we thought a stroll through a real plantation of something so critical to the nation would be stimulating and help us leave with more than pictures but an insight into the economic health of the nation and the way of life for many a Tico. We were also interested in it b/c my wife has worked in support of fairly traded coffee and wanted to see a real plantation and learn of their production practices, especially for the coffee picker.

What a disappointment. Far from being informative, it was a theatrical performance by actors. No real coffee producers, but an actor and an actress pretending to be the Mom and Pop on the coffee farm. The presentation consisted of obvious and stupid humor with bits of information interspersed, and then a ridiculous, juvenile, and unfunny stage presentation that was so overblown we had to leave early or we would have tried to hang ourselves from the rafters.

We weren't sure what was worse, the presentation or the reaction from the American audience. We were both embarrassed b/c the presentation which included some outlandish and stereotypical representations of Ticos and Latin Americans was so warmly embraced by the Americans and the dumb, predictable humor was so easily lapped up.

We had waited three hours for this b/c the Fodor's book had the times wrong, and then having wasted another hour, we departed to Alejuela with a good part of our last day in Costa Rica not enjoyed. Upon checking in at Xandari, the desk attendant told us they always send people to Doka. It is a better tour and they treat their coffee pickers better.

Thanks for your take on this, it confirms my suspicions.

I had wanted to do a coffee tour while in CR, but at the time had only heard of the Britt tour. After reading, I decided it was not for me.

A couple years later I read about the Doka Plantation, which was perfect. We toured Doka last year and very much enjoyed it.

Sorry to hear of your experience, hopefully it will enlighten others that are looking for a true coffee plantation experience and not the animated version.

Which is the coffee tour in Monteverde? I went on that tour and it wasn't bad.

dariow,
the two coffee plantations mentioned are in the central valley.

Mothradave,
I haven't been to Britt for the very reasons mentioned. You aren't the first to be disappointed.

Another option might be to go to Orquideas Inn and set up a tour with Luis. His family owns a small coffee finca and most of the coffee farms around there go into a co-op. He explained a lot to me about different grades and the whole process.

Jessie did you set this up with Luis before you arrived? How much did it cost? Did you enjoy your stay at the Orquiedas?

misha2, the Doka Plantation gives an excellent tour--very informative. It takes about 20-25 minutes to get there from Las Orquideas. They can arrange it for you. We arrived a bit late (it was a last minute decision), but the tour waited a few minutes until there were about 10 of us total. Not theatrical at all like the Cafe Britt tour is said to be.

Their brand of coffee is Tres Generaciones--very good. You can buy some there if you'd like. It isn't sold in stores--strictly export.

No doubt it would be great to go out with Luis and see his family's operation, but the Doka tour would give you a very nice option should the other not work out.

I agree that Doka is waaaay better. I'm so hooked on their coffee that we've been ordering it online from them ever since we visited them last summer!

Thanks so much for the info. I'll look into Doka right away.

Shillmac welcome back!! How was Alaska?

Luis is great for a coffee tour. We went to the Orso Valley on a tour with him. Not sure which coffee plantation it would have been. I would set up a time before I got there with him through the Orquiedas Inn. Such a wonderful guide and we learned so much about the whole valley beside the coffee experience.

shillmac - I know you're busy unpacking & unwinding...when you get a breather, would you e-mail me [email protected] - I have a favour to ask! :)

Thanks, misha2, Alaska was huge, gorgeous, and refreshing! Cool, yet pleasant. We were on the Kenai Peninsula, and it is truly one of the most beautiful areas of the state. It is just so majestic it is hard to take it all in! Gee, Oklahoma sure feels hot! And stormy. . . .

We're staying at Orquideas Inn at the end of our trip and have a day there to do some tour. Has anyone taken a tour from them, other than a coffee tour? did you have to set it up ahead of time? WE're thinking about the aerial tram in Braulio Carrillo, or maybe checking out Bosque de Paz cloud forest. Any thoughts?

At the Orquideas they will set up a tour for you like you want. As I mentioned we requested the Orso Valley so it was planned just for us. Luis is a great guide to do this kind of thing.

Wow I'm surprised by the overwhelmingly negative reaction to the Cafe Britt tour. I have been on the tour several times, and I found it to be fun. The employees in the store were wonderful & helpful, and even remembered me from year to year!
Honestly, what did you expect from a semi-urban environment? It isn't going to show the whole coffee production process, it couldn't! It is designed for basic level comprehension, so that children and teens can get an understanding of what the coffee production is like.
A touch of realism, please!!