A Café With Lots of Heart
Article by: Marina de Almenara - Founder of Corazón Surf Cafe
Photo Credit: Paolo Santo
That awareness grew, shapeshifted, and quietly powered my vision. I didn’t know the how or what quite yet, but I began carrying around this idea in the proverbial “backpocket” of my brain that, somehow, I would turn that privilege into a shared experience. Whatever growth that came from it would be channeled back into my community.
Pardon the cliche, but there truly is no place like home. For me, that place is Negra. Even as I write this, I feel that familiar chill that runs up your neck when you deeply love something and get the rare chance to speak about it, that surge of passion, of genuine connection, and above all, pride. The kind of pride that makes you say 'I'm from here' without hesitation. Because no success feels more meaningful than lifting up the place and the people who made you who you are.
Coffee as the Foundation
Specialty coffee became the anchor of Corazón Surf Café. Choosing to build a refined coffee program in a small surf town was intentional. We believed Playa Negra deserved excellence without losing its authenticity. Sure, that’s a nice concept, but how do you start?
I can tell you that growth did not happen overnight. It looked like consistency, sticking with a true north regardless of ups or downs, was necessary. It meant showing up every morning with discipline, and often going beyond just offering a product. We had to find a delicate balance and educate guests about origin, roast profiles, and extraction — slowly building appreciation for craft and quality.
Coffee set the tone: intentional, precise, and rooted in care. From farm to cup. From our corazón to yours.
But coffee was only the beginning.
A Partnership That Elevated the Vision
The first year Corazón Surf Café opened, I met Dani — who is now my husband. Dani is originally from Barcelona and comes from a background of highly structured, Michelin-level restaurants. His experience in high-performance kitchens brought a whole new dimension to Corazón.
Where I brought local roots and community vision, he brought structure, systems and technical refinement. Alongside his culinary expertise and international experience, he helped introduce a level of organization and operational excellence that allowed the café to evolve beyond passion into professionalism — and it changed everything.
Food as Expression and Responsibility
Both of us being chefs shaped the way Corazón grew, and continues to grow today. For us, food has always been about intention. I have always seen it as a way to make people happy.
As our brunch program expanded, we recognized that growth to us was not defined by scale. Growth was about elevating the experience, to make sure that people felt cared for with every plate. This meant leading with ingredient-driven dishes. It meant thoughtful technique, balanced flavors and attention to detail.
We source locally whenever possible — working with farmers, fishermen and regional producers in Guanacaste. Supporting them is not simply a business strategy; it is a responsibility to the place where I was raised. When you choose local ingredients, you are investing in families. You are strengthening the regional economy. You are contributing to the future of your own town.
Growth, for us, is deeply interconnected. If you grow, that growth must flow back to those around you.
The Human Ripple Effect
Over time, I realized something profound: the happiness created by food does not stop with the guest. Yes, the person at the table feels joy. But the impact extends further.
When employees work in a safe space where they are genuinely cared for—not only monetarily, but emotionally and physically—they thrive. They feel proud. That stability carries into their homes and families.
The same applies to our collaborators and providers. When relationships are built on trust rather than transaction, security expands outward. Their families feel it. The community feels it. The chain continues.
In Playa Negra—and anywhere in the world—a business should prioritize the wellbeing and future development of its people. Profit without care is fragile. Growth rooted in humanity is sustainable, and it's essential.
Expanding Without Losing Our Roots
As Corazón Surf Café evolves, expansion feels less like getting bigger and more like becoming better. It means strengthening the foundation — improving systems, investing in our team’s education, nurturing leadership from within, and approaching new opportunities with care and clarity. But that can be hard when you’re growing. Our recipe?
It’s simple: Every decision we make goes back to the same two questions:
Does this strengthen our people?
Does this enrich our community?
Because true expansion is not simply about becoming bigger. It is about becoming stronger together.
Here in Playa Negra, the town that shaped me, surrounded by the ocean and thoose who inhabit it, Corazón Surf Café continues to evolve one cup, one plate, one relationship at a time.
Photo Credit: Paolo Santo
Nestled in the heart of Playa Negra, Guanacaste, where surf culture meets slow living, sits Corazón Surf Café. It is a place built on specialty coffee, but rooted in something far deeper: home.
I was raised in Playa Negra and the small coastal town has shaped my understanding of many things, including how I came to define community.
Growing up I traveled a lot. I learned from different kitchens and cultures, and expanded my perspective, always feeling deeply grateful for the opportunities life placed in front of me. But coming back home always anchored me. The sights, the people, the cadence of daily life in Negra sharpened my awareness that the many people who grew up alongside me did not have those same opportunities.