Chorreador coffee is Costa Rica’s traditional method for brewing coffee, using a wooden stand called a “chorreador” holding a cloth bag as a filter.
It’s an artisanal technique with over two centuries of history, present in most Costa Rican homes before the arrival of modern coffee makers.
Print
Costa Rican Chorreador Coffee
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Costa Rican
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons of coarsely ground coffee
- 1 liter of water (about 4 cups)
Instructions
- Heat the water, bring the water to just below a boil and remove from heat right before it boils hard.
- Set up the chorreador, place the cloth bag over the wooden stand and set it over the pitcher where the coffee will drip.
- Add the coffee, place the ground coffee inside the cloth bag.
- Pour the water, slowly pour the hot water in a circular motion over the ground coffee, letting it filter by gravity into the pitcher.
- Repeat, repeat the pour in small batches until the water is used up and you’ve reached the desired amount of coffee.
- Serve, serve the coffee hot, right away.
Tips for getting it right
- Pouring the water slowly, in small batches, allows for a more even extraction of the coffee.
- Using coarsely ground coffee keeps the cloth bag from clogging during the pour.
- The cloth bag should only be washed with hot water, without soap, so it doesn’t alter the coffee’s flavor.
- The water shouldn’t be boiling hard when poured, to avoid scorching the coffee.
Traditional variations
- The chorreador can be made of carved, sometimes decorated wood, and is passed down as a family heirloom from generation to generation.
- Some families add a pinch of cinnamon or orange peel to the ground coffee for extra aroma.
How to serve
Chorreador coffee is served hot, freshly brewed, traditionally in a ceramic cup.
It’s an essential part of breakfast and after-meal conversation in Costa Rican homes.
Recommended sides
- Homemade bread
- Fresh cheese
- Rosquillas (corn rings)
Did you know?
The chorreador is recognized as part of Costa Rica’s cultural heritage, with over two centuries of tradition.
Before electric coffee makers, it was the standard household method for brewing coffee in nearly every home in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's a wooden stand that holds a cloth bag used as a filter to brew coffee by gravity, Costa Rica's traditional method.
Coarse grounds keep the cloth bag from clogging and allow for a more even extraction of the coffee.
It's washed only with hot water, without soap, so it doesn't alter the flavor of future brews.
It's an artisanal technique with over two centuries of history in the country, passed down from generation to generation.
