AM: We got up early to catch Volcano Poas, an active volcano with fumarole (sulphur gas) steaming from the center. In 1910, it erupted with a column of steam & ash over 8,000 meters in the air. Apparently the outlook is frequently clouded over, so we were very lucky to see in on a clear day.
PM: We toured the DOKA Coffee Estate – about 70% of their coffee is sold to Starbucks. Interesting stuff we didn’t know (OK, there was a 
LOT we didn’t know about coffee!) The best coffee is picked by hand, to discern the ripeness of the berry. Raw coffee berries are sweet and taste nothing like coffee at all. Arabica beans are the most premium coffee. Coffee beans are shipped internationally after they are washed, dried (see Mike raking the beans?) and dehusked. Roasting is done at the packaging source. Coffee is roasted in light, medium and dark versions – all coffee is a mix of light, medium or dark blend. 
French roast, for example – has no particular bean or roast, it’s just up to the retailer what they want to put in. Coffee is the #2 product in Costa Rica with 20% of the GNP, right behind bananas. We liked the dark chocolate covered beans the best!!
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