The journey starts here!

My beautiful, strong and loving mom and I at the kitchen table in the house where I grew up in Costa Rica. This kitchen table has been a source of inspiration for Giddy Sloth. Our family can sit there for HOURS chatting and creating wonderful memories!

Hi!

I am Carlos. I was born in Costa Rica. My family is from the Central Valley. Most of my childhood was spent in Plaza Viquez, a bustling neighborhood in downtown San Jose. A tight knit family was always around and I had great memories playing with my cousins and solving the proverbial “world-hunger” with my brother. I’ve been drinking coffee since I was 4 years old (not uncommon in a country where coffee is nick-named “the gold grain”). Some of my early childhood memories include helping my grandma setting up the table for coffee time - just a few short hours after the two hour lunch we would typically have and where my uncles, my aunt and sometimes my parents would break away from work so that we could share a meal together.

Coffee in Costa Rica is almost a ceremony; a way of life. Coffee is not a fast affair. Even the preferred, more common brewing method, the pour over, is meticulously performed: taking the time to boil the water, preparing the holding bag (traditionally made of cloth) with a couple of tablespoons of coffee depending on how many people will drink and how strong (or “cargadito”) people prefer it, then slowly pouring the boiling water down the holding bag and giving it some time for it drain into a tin container, then another pour or two of water until you fill your container. By now, the smell of freshly brewed coffee is filling the air and whatever snacks to accompany the coffee are ready for the experience: cookies, bread, cakes or pastries are the most common afternoon snacks for coffee. You might get a “gallito” (a tortilla with a savory snack) or a “chorreada con mantilla” (a sweet corn tortilla with sour cream). During Christmas time, you may get lucky and enjoy a tamal. But the most important part in the coffee ceremony is the company! Whether hanging out with family, catching up with an old friend or trying to woo a new love interest you make time to enjoy the moment and share in each other’s company.

I moved to the US when I was 14 years old, but my love for coffee has followed me always. My memories of sitting around the table with family and friends resonate with a strong sense of home. The idea to bring this feeling to the States sparked on my most recent visit back to my childhood home. I want to present this strong coffee tradition and complement the fantastic coffee scene in Seattle, the city that adopted me.