By Sun Burst PR

There are some souvenirs you bring home from Costa Rica and put on a shelf. And then there are the ones you can enjoy every morning.

For coffee lovers, Sun Burst Coffee offers a delicious way to take a little piece of Costa Rica home, one freshly roasted cup at a time.

The story behind the brand began more than three decades ago, when owner Michael Pierpont moved from Santa Barbara, California, to Costa Rica in 1990. At first, Pierpont was selling coffee in his gift store. But he wasn't satisfied with the local coffees he was offering his customers.

He believed Costa Rica had something much better. “I knew there was better coffee available,” Pierpont said. “I discovered 33 years ago the wonderful taste of the coffees from the Tarrazú region.”

He was so impressed by the flavor that he made a remarkable decision. Pierpont sold his Range Rover to buy a small, handmade, small-batch coffee roaster. That decision helped launch the journey that would become Sun Burst Coffee.

In 2012, Michael married Kenly, his coffee supplier, who managed Costa Rica's largest coffee export mill for 15 years. Kenly continues to ensure that Sun Burst has the finest coffees to roast and sell.

For Pierpont, coffee is more than a business. “Great coffee is my passion,” he said, “and I live to build this business through producing exceptional coffee products with personalized service that the big companies can't provide.”

In August 2006, Michael built a new roasting facility in Austin, Texas. From there, Michael imports high-quality green coffees from Central America and roasts, packages and ships them to customers throughout the United States. Customers can also order online at Sun Burst Coffee.com

Sun Burst offers coffee from the world-famous Tarrazú region, roasted in light, medium and dark roasts. The company also offers Costa Rica Organic coffees in medium and dark roasts.

Michael introduced flavored coffees to Costa Rica in 1993, and Sun Burst now offers six delicious flavored coffees: French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Caramel, Cinnamon Hazelnut, Chocolate Macadamia and its most popular flavor, Secreto.

All Sun Burst coffees are available as whole bean or ground coffee, with 12-ounce and kilogram sizes available.

Whether you prefer a lighter roast, a darker and bolder cup, or a flavored coffee, there is plenty to explore. And for visitors traveling through Costa Rica, there is another reason to stop by.

In 2010, Sun Burst moved its Costa Rican operations to a new facility near Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, Guanacaste. Visitors can stop by the roaster to sample the coffee and purchase freshly roasted Costa Rican coffee at factory prices.

But coffee isn't the only reason to visit. The Guanacaste location also offers a selection of 100% Costa Rican handcrafted products, including exotic wood items, ceramic coffee mugs, salsas, liquors, organic honeys and chocolates.

In other words, you can walk in looking for a bag of coffee and walk out with several Costa Rican treasures.

The location is easy to find. It is about seven minutes south of Daniel Oduber International Airport on Highway 21, approximately 200 yards past the Tempisque River bridge on the right, inside the Do-It-Center Commercial Center.

The store is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors who need directions or have questions can call 506-2667-0818. The English-speaking staff is happy to answer questions and talk with visitors about coffee.

Sun Burst Coffee has also expanded its presence in Costa Rica with a new location in Tres Ríos, east of San José. The new store is located 300 meters west of Auto Mercado in Plaza Rainbow. It is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Customers can call 8765-1651 with questions.

Travelers don't have to go directly to a Sun Burst location to find the coffee. The brand is also available at Automercado supermarkets throughout Costa Rica, as well as several other locations, including Sun Burst Coffee in Tres Ríos, Cartago; Sun Burst Coffee in Liberia, Guanacaste; Super Mercado Las Olas in Tamarindo, Guanacaste; Souvenir Suzzy in Playa del Coco, Guanacaste; Super Mercado Portaro in Guanacaste; Samara Organics in Playa Sámara, Guanacaste; Discount Italian Store in Nosara, Guanacaste; the Duty Free Store at Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José; and the Duty Free Store at Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, Guanacaste.

Costa Rica is famous around the world for its coffee, but the experience goes beyond the beans themselves. It is the smell of freshly roasted coffee filling the air. It is the anticipation of that first sip. It is sitting down in the morning with a hot cup and remembering the mountains, beaches, forests and colorful towns of Costa Rica.

That is what makes Sun Burst Coffee more than just another bag of coffee. For Michael Pierpont, the journey began with the belief that Costa Rica could offer a better cup. More than 30 years later, that passion continues to drive the company.

So if you are the kind of traveler who cannot resist the aroma of freshly roasted coffee, there is a simple way to bring a little Costa Rica home with you. Stop by Sun Burst Coffee, sample the roasts, choose your favorite and take home a fresh taste of Costa Rica.

Check us out online at Sun Burst Coffee.com to explore our full lineup of flavored coffees or place your order today!

Because some Costa Rican memories don't need a photograph. Sometimes, all you need is a cup of coffee.