
Colombia – a top coffee producer
Colombia is the third-largest coffee-producing country in the world after Brazil and Vietnam. But Colombia ranks as no. 1 in the production of arabica coffee beans, the preferred choice of coffee lovers. As Colombia is determined to deliver high-quality coffee, they produce only arabica beans. About 75% of the annual harvest is exported. There are around 540,000 coffee farms in Colombia, most of them small family-owned farms. The National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia supports coffee farmers or cafeteros with research, education, certification, and marketing. This support has been crucial for the international success of Colombian coffee.Where is Colombian coffee grown?
Colombia consists of 32 departments and coffee is grown in 22 of them. Best known is the coffee triangle of Colombia or Eje Cafetero in the center of the country. It is a zone that spans the departments Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindio. It has an impressive variety of ecosystems and microclimates. In 2011, UNESCO declared the Coffee Triangle Colombia a World Heritage Site with the description “Coffee Cultural Landscape”. You will find excellent coffee from these growing areas but also from areas outside of the coffee triangle. Look for coffee from Huila, Nariño, Cauca, Santander, Tolima, and Sierra Nevada. These areas have been recognized by the government for their superior quality and received the status of Denomination of Origin.
Growing conditions
Colombia is located in the coffee belt between the tropics and is blessed with ideal growing conditions. The ideal conditions for successful coffee cultivation are:- altitude of 1,200 to 1,800 meters
- temperatures between 17 and 23 C, no frost
- yearly rainfall of 2,000 millimeters with the right timing
Colombian vs. Arabica Coffee? A trick question
There are people out there asking for the difference between Colombian and arabica coffee. The answer to that is simple: There is no difference. Almost all Colombian coffee beans are of the arabica species, which offers a superior flavor profile and is favored by coffee lovers around the world. This question may have come from misunderstanding the message of a marketing campaign that started in 1958. The National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia created the brand “100% Colombian Coffee”. However, neither species nor cultivars were specified. Adding to the confusion is the fact, that since 1983 there indeed exists a varietal called Colombia. But this one is also an arabica bean and nothing else.Coffee varietals in Colombia
There are 8 coffee arabica varietals that have played an important role over the years in Colombia. The first arrivals in the 1800s were Typica and Bourbon. They were joined by Maragogipe, a large coffee bean from Brazil, also nicknamed “elephant coffee bean”. This varietal has a rather low yield and fell out of favor. It is very hard to find these days. The high-yielding Caturra, a mutant of Bourbon, became one of the main varietals in Central America as well as in Colombia where it represented about half of the annual production. This varietal is also resistant to the fungal disease Coffee Leaf Rust which reached the region in 2012. The National Coffee Research Center (Cenicafé) is continuously improving the quality of Colombian coffee and focussing on the main goals: quality of the cup, disease resistance, and yield. In 1983 it released the varietal Colombia which was created from Caturra and the Timor hybrid. In 2002 they introduced the varietal Tabi which was created from Typica, Bourbon, and the Timor hybrid. This is, by all means, a great bean and meets the quality standards of Cenicafé. The latest release from Cenicafé is Castillo which by now is the most popular bean with Colombian coffee growers. It has the highest resistance against the Coffee Leaf Rust Disease and the Coffee Berry Disease. The yield is higher than the other varietals and it offers an excellent flavor profile. It is also expected that it can weather the effects of climate change better. More than half of the annual coffee production consists now of the Castillo bean. The most exciting new addition to Colombian specialty coffees is the Colombia Geisha varietal. The Geisha or rather Gesha varietal had already been a tremendous success in Panama. As Panama Geisha coffee it soon became one of the most cherished coffees fetching incredible prices at international auctions.Branding and Marketing of Colombian coffee
The National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia started a brilliant marketing campaign in 1958 with the character of Juan Valdez, created by the ad agency Doyle Dane Bernbach.
Expanding into coffee shops
The next logical step by the National Federation of Coffee was to take advantage of the excellent brand image and start a chain of coffee shops. The Juan Valdez Café was born in 2002.
What is Colombia Supremo coffee?
Colombia Supremo is considered the best quality of Colombian coffee, grown at a very high altitude and selected for the size of the beans. They have to pass a screen size of 17 minimum. They are not of a specific varietal. Colombia Supremo beans are slightly larger than the second-ranked Excelso beans.Which Colombian coffee should you buy?
The National Federation of Coffee is doing a great job in ensuring the quality and reputation of 100% Colombian Coffee. Even if you buy just a generic Colombian coffee from a reputable roaster, you won’t be disappointed. As a real coffee lover, you should also try single-origin coffee produced in one of the 6 regions Cauca, Nariño, Huila, Santander, Tolima, and Sierra Nevada. The Colombian government has awarded them the grade of Denomination of Origin for their outstanding quality. Here are some of my current favorites that can be easily ordered online from Volcanica, a most reputable roaster to give you a head start. Just click on the images below.
Santa Marta Asoarhuaco coffee
This is a very unique coffee produced by the indigenous tribe of the Arhuaca in norther Colombia. Read more about this amazing product in this post.
0 Comments