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Colombian coffee has been one of the benchmarks of quality in the coffee world for sometime.
Rightly so too. Coffee courses through Colombia’s veins. Here, coffee is tradition, livelihood and passion for so many which transcends into the fantastic coffee that originates here.
I visited Colombia a couple of years ago and met some fantastic people in the coffee world. I even worked on a coffee farm for a few weeks.
The country is teeming with prime coffee growing environments, with the Andean mountains ripping straight down the middle with countless off-spills of high altitude slopes with varying temperatures.
Colombia is a prime specialty-coffee-growing country with a long history of production and was the focus of one of the most successful marketing campaigns in coffee history during the 50’s.
Juan Valdez cantered onto Television sets in 1958 And began telling the story of high quality Colombia coffee beans.
Here at Batch coffee we pride ourselves on showcasing some the some of the best independent coffee roasters in the UK and their seasonal single origin coffees from around the world in our subscription box.
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Here are a couple of our favourite coffee roasters that have fantastic seasonal coffee menus including some of the best Colombian coffee beans:
Batch coffee features two different coffees in each fortnightly box. That works out as over 50 new coffees every year that you can experience without leaving the house.
Although the roaster and the origin changes constantly, Colombia is an origin that is regularly frequented because of the quality and the diversity of the coffee. Checkout the Colombian coffees that we have recently featured below.
We spoke to a couple of coffee experts about their experiences with Colombian coffee.
I started my journey through Specialty Coffee in 2016 in Bogota’s Expo Especiales explains Yker from Bon Viviant Caffe.
At that time, I was working as a management consultant for a project in the city and had already spent four years traveling to Bogota frequently. Casually a friend invited me to go with her to the Expo, and that experience changed my life.
I saw a coffee auction, met coffee producers, watched the Colombian Barista Championship, and stopped at every stall asking for espresso machines features, grinders, and all sorts of things.
What I learned that day, I confirmed after a few years of researching and learning about coffee.
Colombian coffee is different because it has incredibly high standards. And it lives to high standards because the Colombian Coffee Federation does excellent work promoting Colombia coffee beans internationally.
It’s hard to say if Colombian coffee is the best in the world, as many would argue. But I trust Colombian coffee quality standards, and I know for a fact that Colombian coffee is good. Moreover, Colombian Single Origin Specialty coffee is superb.
Eventually, it all boils down to the people. Colombian producers and roasters know that they represent their country and feel proud to strengthen Colombia’s reputation as a premium coffee producer.
Why Is Colombian Coffee Considered Among the World’s Best?
Colombian coffee’s exceptional reputation isn’t just clever marketing – it’s the result of a perfect combination of geography, tradition, and human dedication.
The country’s unique position along the Andes Mountains creates what could be considered nature’s perfect coffee laboratory.
The mountain range splits into three distinct cordilleras (mountain ranges), creating countless microclimates that provide ideal coffee-growing conditions at different altitudes.
The volcanic soil in these regions is rich in nutrients that coffee plants crave, while the varying altitudes (typically between 1,200 and 2,000 meters above sea level) create stress conditions that force the coffee cherries to develop more slowly, resulting in more complex flavour compounds.
This natural advantage is further enhanced by Colombia’s proximity to both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, which creates unique weather patterns that provide just the right amount of rainfall and sun exposure throughout the growing season.
But perhaps most importantly, it’s the human element that truly sets Colombian coffee apart. Unlike many other major coffee-producing nations, Colombia still maintains a tradition of hand-picking coffee cherries.
This selective harvesting ensures that only perfectly ripe cherries are picked, while unripe or overripe ones are left on the tree for later harvesting.
Tom hindering Manuel on Finca Florida, Manizales.
This level of quality control starts at the very beginning of the process and continues through processing, where most Colombian coffee undergoes wet processing, which helps develop the clean, bright flavours that Colombian coffee is famous for.
There are differences in flavour profile within Colombia. However, there is a common denominator: coffee from Colombia often features a well-balanced flavour profile with a medium body.
It has some acidity with hints of sweetness.
However, as noted, flavour profiles do change from region to region. For example, coffee grown in the Medellin, Armenia and Manizales area (MAM for short, also known as the Eje Cafetero) has higher acidity than coffee from the northern parts of the country such as the Sierra Nevada.
This comes down to the many ideal cultivation areas in Colombia that still differ from each other.
Most of the high quality coffee beans get exported.
In Colombia, many people drink a ‘tinto’, which is a lower quality black coffee. Having a tinto with some locals is a great way to experience Colombian culture. Read more about Colombian Tinto Coffee.
How Sustainable Is Colombian Coffee Production and Why Does It Matter?
Colombian coffee production represents a delicate balance between traditional farming methods and modern sustainability challenges.
The backbone of Colombian coffee farming is the shade-grown cultivation method, where coffee plants flourish under a canopy of taller trees. This traditional approach naturally protects the environment by maintaining bird habitats, conserving soil, and preserving local biodiversity, all while producing exceptional coffee.
What makes Colombian coffee particularly unique from a sustainability perspective is its social structure. Unlike many other coffee-producing nations that rely on large plantations, Colombian coffee primarily comes from small family farms averaging just 2-3 hectares.
This small-holder model helps preserve traditional farming knowledge while providing direct economic benefits to local communities.
These farmers often pass down their expertise through generations, maintaining high-quality standards through personal attention to their crops.
However, today’s Colombian coffee farmers face significant challenges. Climate change is altering growing conditions, while rising production costs and market price volatility put pressure on traditional farming methods.
In response, farmers are adapting by developing disease-resistant varieties and implementing water-saving processing techniques, all while striving to maintain the superior quality that Colombian coffee is known for.
For coffee consumers, understanding these sustainability practices matters because they directly affect both coffee quality and the future of Colombian coffee production.
When purchasing Colombian coffee, looking for certifications like Rainforest Alliance or Fair Trade can help support these sustainable practices.
These efforts ensure that the rich tradition of Colombian coffee cultivation continues while protecting both the environment and the communities that produce some of the world’s finest coffee.
Is Colombian Coffee Handpicked?
Felipe recalls vividly one of his school field trips back in the 90s when he was living in Colombia.
We visited a coffee farm, and saw the coffee being harvested by some ladies carrying huge bags full of coffee cherries that I couldn’t even carry.
I remember seeing their hands with scars and cuts from years of coffee cherry picking. Hand-picking coffee is a very tough and sometimes hazardous job.
Every time I drink a cup of Colombian coffee, I remember these ladies. I know someone went through a lot of effort to harvest the coffee I’m now drinking, which makes me feel grateful.
Is Colombian Coffee Arabica Or Robusta?
Colombia officially produces only arabica coffee according to Index Mundi.
That being said, there may be a few small farms producing Robusta coffee but production of any varietal is considered zero if the annual production is under 1000 60kg sacks.
Find More Coffee Stats
Watch this space though as scientists and coffee farmers in Colombia are experimenting with Robusta coffees because of the increase in coffee leaf rust and Nestle have been reported to have sent 3000 Robusta seedlings according to Sprudge.
Is Colombian Coffee Roasted Light Or Dark?
Often you will find Colombian coffee roasted around the medium level in the world of Colombian single origin coffee. That is however a sweeping statement as coffee beans can be roasted to any level, from light to dark.
Generally speaking though Colombian coffee typically has sweet and rich notes that are highlighted best with a medium roast.
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