– **1800s Coffee Boom**: In the early 1800s, Costa Rica’s coffee industry began with Felix Valverde’s persuasion of farmers to cultivate coffee in the Central Valley.
– **Ideal Growing Conditions**: Volcanic soils and consistent weather patterns in Costa Rica’s Central Valley provided perfect conditions for coffee cultivation.
– **Government Support**: Visionary leaders like Montealegre, Fernandez, and Carrillo supported the industry through free trade agreements, distributing coffee plants, and building infrastructure like railways for exports.
– **Land Ownership Incentives**: Costa Rica offered land ownership to those who cultivated coffee for at least five years, boosting production.
– **Coffee Dominance**: Between 1846 and 1890, coffee became Costa Rica’s sole export, establishing the nation’s reputation for high-quality beans that endures today.