Under two contrasting light regimes ( full sun and 45% shade ) and the optimal coffee-growing conditions of the central valley of costa Rice, production pattern, bean characteristics and beverage quality were assessed over two production cycles on dwarf coffee ( Coffea arabica L. cv. Costa Rica 95 ) trees with varying fruit loads ( quarter, half and full loads ) imposed by manual fruit thinning. Shade decreased coffee tree productivity by 18% but reduced alternate bearing. Shade positively affected bean size and composition as well as beverage quality by delaying berry flesh ripening by up to 1 month. Higher sucrose, chlorogenic acid and trigonelline contents in sun-grow beans pointed towards incomplete bean maturation and explained the higher bitterness and astringency of the coffee beverage.