Dominican Republic washed Arabica, San José de Ocoa, Finca Ibonna

Being known for its breathtaking beaches and plentiful rum, the Dominican Republic is one of the most visited countries in the Caribbean. Bordering Haiti on the eastern side of Hispaniola (island of the Greater Antilles chain), this Caribbean gem is home to some 11 million people. Santo Domingo, its capital and largest city, was founded by the Spanish in 1496 and is considered the first permanent settlement established by Europeans in the Americas.

While its economy is primarily based on services like tourism and finance, agriculture also plays an important role, accounting for one-eighth of the country's GDP. Sugarcane remains the main cash crop, while coffee and cacao have become more prominent. Coffee was first introduced to the Dominican Republic in the 18th century, but it took almost 100 years to start its exporting activities. Today, the Dominican Republic is the largest coffee-producing country in the Caribbean, with approximately 50,000 coffee farms producing over 400,000 60kg bags in 2019. The internal consumption averages 3kg per person, and only 20% of production is exported.

Even though Dominican coffee is often sold as Santo Domingo coffee (named after its capital), the country has different producing regions, including Cibao, Azua, Ocoa, Juncalito, Barahona, and Baní. Most of the coffee cultivated in the country is Arabica and is typically found to be relatively mild, with low to medium acidity, rich aromas, and earthy flavors.