Does it make sense? Authorities of the Republic implemented a series of measures aimed at promoting the coffee industry, among which are notable: 1821: The Municipality of San José distributed free coffee plants among residents; 1825: The Government exempts coffee from tithe payments; 1831: The National Assembly decreed that any one who grew coffee for five years on idle land could claim the land as their own; 1840: a decree is issued to plant coffee on the undeveloped land to the west of San José (Pavas). Several decades passed between the introduction of coffee and its consolidation as an export product. The commercialization of coffee began in 1832, when Don Jorge Stiepel, who had close business ties with the English, first exported to Chile. It has been confirmed that Captain William Le Lacheur opened direct trade with English ports in 1843. Le Lacheur made the trip from London to Puntarenas in 1943 on the “Monarch” to transport back a shipment of 5,005 quintals of coffee, one of the most representative exports. Afterward, other freighters full of coffee set sail to England, which marked the success of the coffee trade. Throughout the history of Costa Rica, coffee has been a fundamental pillar of the society and a driving force behind development and the national economy. For this reason it has been called the “golden bean.” With the development of its cultivation and opening of export markets came an economic, social, and cultural surge, and an improvement in the country’s infrastructure: The Federal Debt was paid; the postal service, first Government printing office, San José Hospital and San Juan de Dios Hospital were founded; the Santo Tomás University was founded, and the National Theater was erected. Also established were the first libraries, the opening and improvement of roads and the construction of the Atlantic and Pacific railroads. Development of the Banking system (in 1863, Banco Anglo Costarricense, Banco la Unión, Banco Internacional) helped small farmers with their credit to increase their cultivation areas. In addition, there was the Mauro Fernández Education Reform, the first higher learning centers and libraries, th