Helsar Natural - Costa Rica
- In stock, ready to ship
- Backordered, shipping soon
- Choose a subscription & it ships free!
- Free shipping over $65 in AB / $75 Canada-wide
- Roasted to order in Edmonton & shipped fast
- If something’s off, we’ll make it right (ground coffee is a final sale.)
Raspberry, Milk Chocolate, Floral
- Country: Costa Rica
- Region: Naranjo
- Farmer: Ricardo Perez Barrantes
- Elevation: 1,750 meters above sea level
- Processing: Red honey, dried on tiered raised beds
- Varietals: Typica, Villalobos, Caturra
Costa Rica Helsar: Natural Process Coffee from the West Valley
Helsar de Zarcero brings together the work of 35 coffee-producing families in Costa Rica’s West Valley. Located in the Naranjo and Llano Bonito area, the micromill has built a reputation around careful processing, collaboration and a commitment to continually improving coffee quality.
Helsar may also be a familiar name to those who have enjoyed our Santa Lucia coffee. Santa Lucia and producer Ricardo Pérez Barrantes are closely connected to the Helsar micromill, giving this coffee a link to a producer relationship we have featured before — this time through a naturally processed lot representing the broader Helsar producer community.
About Helsar de Zarcero
Helsar de Zarcero is a community micromill working with approximately 35 farming families throughout the West Valley. Coffees are grown between 1,500 and 1,700 metres above sea level, with Caturra, Catuai and Villalobos among the varieties cultivated by the group.
The micromill was established to give producers greater control over how their coffee is processed and, ultimately, how its quality and value are expressed. Today, Helsar serves as a central processing point where coffee from surrounding farms can be carefully handled, dried and prepared with a strong emphasis on quality.
Our previous Santa Lucia coffee offered one introduction to the people behind Helsar. This natural lot broadens that story, highlighting the work of the larger community of producers connected to the mill.
Natural Processing at Helsar
Natural processing takes a very different approach from the red honey process used for our previous Santa Lucia release. Instead of removing the skin and some of the fruit before drying, the entire coffee cherry is left intact and dried around the seed.
Keeping the fruit in place extends the coffee's contact with the sugars and organic compounds within the cherry as it dries. When carefully managed, this can encourage greater sweetness, fuller body and more pronounced fruit character in the finished cup.
It also demands precision. Whole cherries contain significantly more moisture than depulped coffee and must dry slowly and evenly. Careful sorting, turning and monitoring help manage fermentation and prevent undesirable flavours from developing.
At Helsar, that processing expertise allows the natural method to build complexity while preserving balance and clarity — producing a coffee that is expressive without losing its underlying structure.
A Different Expression of the West Valley
Costa Rica is particularly well known for its honey processing, making this natural lot an opportunity to experience another side of the country's coffee production.
Caturra, Catuai and Villalobos grown at high elevations provide the foundation, while whole-cherry drying introduces another layer of sweetness, body and fruit character. The result is a distinctly different expression from the Red Honey Santa Lucia we've previously featured, while remaining connected to the same community and micromill.
Why Choose Helsar?
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Natural Process: Whole coffee cherries are dried intact to encourage sweetness, body and fruit complexity.
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Community Produced: Helsar represents the work of approximately 35 farming families in the West Valley.
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High-Elevation Coffee: Grown between 1,500 and 1,700 metres above sea level.
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A Familiar Connection: Helsar is closely connected to Santa Lucia and Ricardo Pérez Barrantes, whose coffee we've previously featured at Transcend.
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Costa Rican Varieties: Featuring Caturra, Catuai and Villalobos grown in Naranjo and Llano Bonito.
Experience Costa Rica Helsar
Helsar offers a new expression of a producer community we already know. Through natural processing, this lot brings together the work of 35 farming families and the processing expertise of Helsar de Zarcero, highlighting the sweetness, complexity and character of Costa Rica’s West Valley.
Whole Bean Coffee, Roasted to Perfection
Choose your bag size above.
Our labels now feature both filter and espresso symbols, reflecting a simple truth: our coffees are crafted to shine with any brewing method. Discover unique flavours with each brew, while we continue to highlight coffees specially suited for espresso.
Want to learn more about our flavour profile categories? Click here!
Please note that all ground coffee purchases are final sale and are not eligible for refund or exchange. Because ground coffee is prepared specifically to your selected grind size, we are unable to accept returns or offer exchanges once the package has been opened or shipped.
If you're unsure of your grind preference, we recommend choosing whole bean coffee for maximum flexibility and freshness.
Freshly roasted coffee, shipped across Canada. Here’s everything you need to know about delivery times, local pickup, returns, and order changes.
Quick answers
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Shipping (Canada): We ship across Canada.
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Free shipping: $65+ (Alberta) • $75+ (rest of Canada)
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Subscriptions: Always ship free in Canada
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Roast & ship timeline: Most orders ship within 1–3 business days
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Local pickup (Edmonton): Available from Ritchie Market
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Order changes: Contact us within 24 hours if your order hasn’t shipped
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Ground coffee: Custom-ground coffee is final sale
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United States: US shipping is currently paused (details below)
Need help fast? Email info@transcendcoffee.com with your order number.
On this page
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Shipping in Canada
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Processing & delivery times
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Local pickup (Edmonton)
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United States shipping (paused)
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International shipping (outside Canada)
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Returns & refunds
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Ground coffee (custom ground)
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Equipment & merchandise
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Cancellations & order changes
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FAQs
Shipping in Canada
We ship across Canada. Shipping rates are calculated at checkout based on your order and destination.
Free shipping thresholds
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Alberta: Free shipping on orders over $65
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Rest of Canada: Free shipping on orders over $75
Subscriptions: All subscription orders ship free in Canada.
Processing & delivery times
We roast in small batches and pack fresh. Most orders ship within 1–3 business days (excluding weekends and holidays).
Once shipped, delivery time depends on your region and carrier capacity. You’ll receive tracking as soon as your order leaves our roastery.
Local pickup (Edmonton)
Local pickup is available from Ritchie Market or Transcend 124
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Pickup orders are typically ready within 1–3 business days
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Please pick up your order within 2 weeks of receiving your pickup notification
United States shipping (paused)
At this time, we’re not able to ship orders to U.S. addresses.
Recent changes to U.S. import and processing fees can add significant charges at the border, making small orders unpredictable and often unaffordable. To protect customers from surprise costs and delays, we’ve paused U.S. shipping for now.
If you have questions, email info@transcendcoffee.com.
International shipping (outside Canada)
International shipping is limited and availability can change. If you’re outside Canada and can’t check out, email info@transcendcoffee.com with your country and postal code and we’ll confirm what’s possible.
Returns & refunds
Coffee (whole bean + ground)
Coffee is a perishable product, so coffee purchases are final sale once shipped.
If something is wrong with your order (damaged parcel, incorrect item, or a quality issue), contact info@transcendcoffee.com within 7 days of delivery with your order number and details. Photos help if the parcel was damaged. We’ll make it right.
Ground coffee (custom ground)
We grind coffee specifically to the brew method you select, so ground coffee can’t be returned or exchanged once shipped.
Not sure what to choose? We recommend ordering whole bean for maximum freshness and flexibility.
If we grind your order incorrectly, contact us — we’ll fix it.
Equipment & merchandise
Unopened, unused equipment and merchandise may be eligible for return. Email info@transcendcoffee.com within 15 days of delivery to request authorization.
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Items must be returned unused and in original packaging
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Return shipping is the customer’s responsibility unless the item arrived damaged or incorrect
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Refunds are issued to the original payment method once the return is received and inspected
- If you are interested in a Moccamaster product that is out of stock you can request to be added to a wait list here.
Moccamaster returns
Moccamaster brewers may be returned within 30 days of purchase if unused and in original condition/packaging. Contact info@transcendcoffee.com to start a return.
Cancellations & order changes
We start processing quickly to roast and ship fresh.
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If you need to cancel or change an order, contact us within 24 hours of placing it
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If your order has already shipped, we may not be able to cancel it
Email info@transcendcoffee.com with your order number and request, and we’ll do our best to help.
If you are choosing to cancel a Subscription, we would really appreciate your feedback.
Payment & order confirmation
All orders are processed through secure checkout. Once your order is placed, you’ll receive an email confirmation. If you don’t see it, check your spam/junk folder or email us at info@transcendcoffee.com.
FAQs
Do you ship across Canada?
Yes — shipping is available across Canada, with rates calculated at checkout.
Do subscriptions ship free?
Yes — subscription orders always ship free in Canada.
When will my order ship?
Most orders ship within 1–3 business days. You’ll receive tracking once it ships.
Do you offer free shipping?
Yes: free shipping on orders over $65 (Alberta) and over $75 (rest of Canada).
Can I cancel my order?
Usually, if you contact us within 24 hours and it hasn’t shipped yet.
Why is ground coffee final sale?
Because it’s custom ground for your selected brew method and can’t be resold or reprocessed.
Do you ship to the United States?
Not at the moment. US shipping is paused due to import/processing fees that can make orders unaffordable.
Policies may be updated from time to time. The most current version will always be posted on this page.
