Costa Rica’s “Coffee Sock” Brewer: Strange at First Sight, Surprisingly Comforting
Step into a small countryside home in Costa Rica and you’ll almost always spot a simple wooden stand hanging on a kitchen wall. In the middle of the stand is a round opening holding a cotton bag with a metal ring, and beneath it sits a coffee cup. This humble setup is the country’s beloved brewing tool: the chorreador — a 200-year-old “old-school treasure” that somehow never went out of style. The structure is almost shockingly simple. No mechanical parts, no fancy gadgets — just a sturdy wooden frame with a circular hole on top. Fixed inside that hole is a cloth filter called a Bolsita (“little bag” in Spanish). The metal ring snaps perfectly into place, allowing the bag to hang naturally. A cup or small serving pot sits right below it. No assembly needed. You just pick it up and start brewing. The brewing process is wonderfully soothing. You scoop in some freshly ground coffee, pour hot water slowly into the dry filter, and watch as the water saturates the grounds. Then, drop...