Arleen & Maria Jimenez
Beneficio La Angostura & Bean Voyage — Costa Rica
Arleen and Maria Jimenez are two sisters with a clear vision: to produce high-quality coffee and lead their family business into the future. With dedication and care, they have taken both the farm and the family’s processing station to the next level.
We are excited to welcome back Angostura Espresso, a smooth and sweet Honey-processed Caturra and our second purchase from Arleen and Maria Jimenez.
Beneficio La Angostura & Bean Voyage
Arleen and Maria Jimenez were early participants in Bean Voyage, a non-profit organization founded in 2019 that provides training, capital, and market access to smallholder women producers so they can improve farm performance, earn a thriving income, and lead sustainable lives. The program has connected the two sisters to a larger network of like-minded women producers, allowing them to gain new perspectives and find solutions to the problems their family farm was facing.
Through their involvement in Bean Voyage's participatory storytelling initiative, the sisters each filmed and produced their own short documentary. The entire 5-part series is called “Más que un café” and is available online. We will also be hosting periodic viewings and discussions at our café in Berlin.
Arleen and Maria’s father, Don Mario Jimenez, founded Finca Mario Jimenez Gamboa about 30 years ago. In 2016, the family established their own processing station, Beneficio La Angostura. The farm is located between 1,700 and 1,900 meters above sea level in the mountains of Tarrazú, Costa Rica, a region known for exceptional coffee.
As children, Arleen and Maria witnessed both the highs and lows of the coffee business. Some years were successful, while others brought the family close to failure. In their twenties, they chose to step into the business and take responsibility. They wanted to help address the challenges their family faced: low global market prices, rising production costs, and limited support from the local coffee industry.
Today, Don Mario focuses on coffee cultivation, while Arleen and Maria manage processing at Beneficio La Angostura. This clear division of roles allows each of them to concentrate on their strengths. Through their involvement with Bean Voyage, the sisters expanded their network and improved access to international markets.