Ruby – Costa Rica Blend

About the Coffee

Ruby is a blend built from three distinct Costa Rican farms: Sumava de Lourdes in the West Valley, El Quizarra in the Central Valley, and La Lía in Tarrazú. Each farm sits in a different growing region, and each brings something different to the cup. Pilot has been working with producers across these regions for over a decade.

Costa Rica's three main coffee-growing regions each have their own climate and elevation profiles. Tarrazú sits at some of the country's highest altitudes and is known for producing structured, complex lots. The West Valley and Central Valley tend toward softer, rounder profiles. Blending across all three lets Pilot balance those differences into something consistent and everyday-friendly, while keeping the character of each origin intact.

Pilot sources these lots through direct trade relationships, meaning they work directly with the farms rather than through intermediaries. That structure gives the farms more predictable income and gives Pilot more control over quality and traceability. Ruby has been part of Pilot's lineup long enough to be considered a signature offering, returning year after year with the same three partners.

About Pilot Coffee Roasters

Andy Wilkin and Jessie Holmes opened Te Aro Roasted in May 2009 in Toronto's Leslieville neighbourhood, operating out of a former car garage. Andy had just earned his Q Grader certification (a rigorous sensory qualification for coffee professionals) and drew inspiration from the café culture of Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand, where he grew up. In 2013, the name changed to Pilot Coffee Roasters and roasting moved to their current home at 50 Wagstaff Drive in Toronto.

Pilot's sourcing is built around long-term producer relationships rather than spot buying. They return to the same farms year after year, which is how a blend like Ruby stays consistent, even as individual harvest conditions change. Ruby is a good example of what that looks like in practice: three Costa Rican farms, more than ten years of repeat visits, and a blend that reflects those ongoing relationships as much as it reflects the regions themselves.