How did coffee production shape the history of Costa Rica?

Coffee production has significantly shaped Costa Rica's history, particularly from the 1840s onward. The cultivation of coffee allowed even small landowners to achieve a modest living, giving Costa Ricans a competitive edge over coffee farmers in other Latin American nations. This trade also attracted British investment and spurred the development of infrastructure, such as railways, to transport coffee to Pacific ports for export to Europe. While bananas later rivaled coffee as a primary export, coffee remains a significant agricultural product and a key element of Costa Rica's economy and identity.1234