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Colombian coffee is one of the most special and popular coffee beans in the coffee industry in recent years. However, despite this popularity, not every coffee aficionado knows everything about it. Colombia’s history and its coffee are closely tied together which makes Colombia’s coffee special and makes its culture rich. In this article, we hope we can make every coffee lover informed about this amazing coffee and its culture by explaining everything we can about it. Without further ado, let’s dive into Colombia coffee’s world together!
What Is Colombian Coffee?
Colombian coffee stands for coffee beans that are grown in various parts of Colombia. It is known for its delightful aroma and flavors as well as its arabica variety. Coffee packages that are labeled as Colombian coffee mean that they are a blend of various coffee beans from Colombia or a single origin. Single-origin Colombian coffee means that it is produced on a single farm in Colombia and can be traced back.
Colombian is one of the biggest coffee producers in the world with Brazil and Vietnam. The first coffee is known to have introduced to Colombia in 1723 by the Jesuits. Spread of the coffee in Colombia was relatively slow at first and it wasn’t a significant thing until the end of the 19th-century. In 1912, however, Colombian coffee beans made up almost 50% of Colombia’s total exports.
You may have seen the words “Supremo” and “Excelso” on your Colombian coffee packet. These words are used to describe the size of the coffee beans inside of the packet. They don’t determine the quality or traceability of the coffee.
History Of The Coffee In Colombia
Altough some of the facts are missing, we can still highlight some of the important events that are happened in Colombia’s history regarding coffee.
1723
Although coffee beans were introduced to the world in the 1600s, coffee found its way to Colombia around 1723 thanks to the Jesuit priests.
1835
Colombia’s first outbound coffee shipment occurred in 1835. In 1835, a total supply of 2500 pounds of coffee made its way to the United States. Although it is a small amount compared to Colombia’s exports nowadays, it was a great start.
1927
In 1927, a non-profit cooperative named Colombia Coffee Growers Federation (Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia) was founded. The aim of this cooperation is to represent the farmers that grow Colombian coffee plant by helping small farmers to make them bigger. They support farmer’s rights and help to improve their growing methods to increase yield.
1930
In 1930, Colombia become the world’s second largest coffee producer and coffee was the main export that helped the economy. In these years, Colombia saw a huge shift in its economy in a good way. Colombia’s export changed from gold, tobacco, and mules to railways, banks, and coffee.
1958
In 1958, an iconic character named Juan Valed was introduced to represent the farmers who grow Colombian coffee beans.
1990s
Although things were going well until the 1990s, coffee producers in Colombia started to lose profit in the 1990s which lead them to lose their costs of production. As a result, production dropped dramatically and many small farmers had to close their farms leading to poverty.
The problem is not completely solved today, still, some of the small farmers are having a hard time maintaining their farms.
1994
In 1994, Colombia opened a coffee-themed park named National Coffee Park with the help of the National Federation of Coffee Growers Of Colombia.
2018
In 2018, the coffee industry in Colombia is still not good and needs to be improved. Coffee producers in Colombia started to contact big brands such as Starbucks and Nestle to help them out. However, the problem still continues.
Growing And Processing Colombian Coffee
There are two main regions that Colombian coffee is produced. These are the highlands of the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta and the slopes of the three sections of the Andes mountains. In Medellin, a region that is virtually 14.000 square kilometers is known as the Colombian coffee-growing axis. This big production area is one of the things that could be an answer to why Colombian coffee is the best.
In the Northern coffee region, the produced coffee has less acidity but more body. In the central coffee region, coffee has a balanced profile, strong fragrance, medium acidity, and medium body. And finally, in the Southern coffee region, coffee has higher acidity and distinct cup profiles.
Growing Conditions
| Harvest Seasons | September to December and April to June |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 46° to 75° Fahrenheit |
| Total Coffee Growing Area | 940.000 hectares |
| High Elevation Farms | Up to 6.400 feet |
Processing
Colombian coffee beans are wet-processed in order to remove the cherries from the surrounding pulp. Although wet-processing is a relatively new technique, it is very useful because it leads to a cleaner, fruiter, and brighter product which makes bright acidic Colombian coffee perfect.
Why Is Colombian Coffee So Good?
- Colombian coffee beans are ideal for espresso-based drinks because they can be roasted dark without burning.
- It has a very special flavor that can be described as mild and well-balanced and it has an acidity level between medium to high.
- Thanks to its flavor that has aromas such as citrus, fruits, and spices, it can be used for blends.
- It is made by using 100% Arabica beans which means they are of good quality and strong.
- Colombia is a perfectly located country for coffee that makes it special.
- Colombia coffee flavor is very rich thanks to the perfect soil conditions and the right amount of rain along with the climate.
What Does Colombian Coffee Taste Like?
Although its flavor can change depending on the region it is grown, there are some characteristics of the flavor of the Colombian coffee that separates it from other coffee beans.
- Its flavor is usually described as mild and well-balanced along with medium, silky body, and cleanliness. Acidity levels are medium to high which leads to a bright brew.
- You can taste some floral hints, tropical fruits, red berries, apples, or even sweetness like chocolate, sugar cane, or caramel.
- It has a fruity, citrus, and spicy aroma that explains why Colombian coffee is famous.
What Is The Difference Between Colombian Coffee And Arabica Coffee?
Although you might say Colombian coffee is the same as Arabica coffee, there are some differences between them.
To begin with, one of the main differences between Colombian coffee and Arabica coffee is that Colombia coffee is exclusively grown in Colombia while Arabica coffee can be grown in other parts of the world. What’s more, their flavors are different because Colombia coffee tends to be milder compared to Arabica coffee which has a strong flavor profile. Another difference between them is that Colombian coffee can be prepared instantly while Arabic coffee has to be brewed before consumed.
How To Make Colombian Coffee
In this part of the article, we will describe different methods to make Colombian coffee. Without further ado, let’s see how to make this delicious coffee!
Making Colombian Coffee With The Chemex
The Chemex is regarded as the godfather of the pour-over coffee makers and it uses a medium-coarse grind setting. The coffee filter that is made explicitly for the Chemex coffee maker gives the brewed coffee a bitter signature taste.
You don’t need to add sugar when you make Colombian coffee with the Chemex because the Chemex has a flavor similar to the sweet caramel. However, you might need a little cream. As Chemex uses the thickest paper filters, the sweet notes in the Colombian coffee beans will shine.
Making Colombian Coffee With The Siphon
Siphon, also known as vac pot, uses cloth, pressure, and heat to infuse water with Colombian coffee beans. If you want to drink a coffee that is full-bodied, the siphon might be the right choice. The coffee becomes less sweet but more fruity.
Making Colombian Coffee With The Stovetop Espresso
Stovetop Espresso is one of the most popular coffee makers in the world and in Colombia. The grind option is slightly coarser than the espresso grind. When heat is added, the pressurized water intersperses with the fine ground Colombian coffee grounds. The final result is a bitter yet delicious coffee.
FAQ
Is Colombian Coffee Dark Roast?
No, Colombian coffee can be any roast such as light, medium, dark, French, or Italian roast. If you want a real experience with Colombian coffee, you should choose light or medium roast.
Does Colombian Coffee Have More Caffeine?
Compared to Arabica coffee from other countries, Colombian coffee caffeine content is not that different from them.
Dark Roast vs Light Roast, Which One Is Best For Colombian Coffee?
When you explore Colombian coffee beans, you might want to know how does it taste when it’s roasted dark or light.
If Colombian coffee roast is darker, it tends to lose its distinct flavor. However, you can still drink your coffee, it is not wrong to use dark roasts with Colombian coffee. Light roasts, on the other hand, work best with Colombian coffee beans by bringing out their distinct flavors.
Is Colombian Coffee More Acidic?
Yes, Colombian coffee is more acidic in general because of the growing conditions such as high altitudes and low temperatures.
Is Colombian Coffee The Best Coffee In The World?
Although it changes from person to person, we can say it is one of the best coffee beans in the world with its unique flavor profile, growing methods, and processing methods.
Wrapping Up
Although Colombian coffee has many topics to talk about, in this article, we tried to give you the basics of Colombian coffee. Now that you have learned almost everything you need to know about Colombian coffee, you may be able to understand why Colombian coffee is the best. If you have more questions or suggestions, let us know in the comments section!
My world consists of guitar, music, and coffee. I spent years preparing coffees at home and learning more about coffee. As a result of this, I have learned so much about coffee, and in Coffee Magazine, I try my best to share my knowledge about coffee and its culture. Click here for detailed information about me.