Why Is Colombian Coffee The World’s Favorite Coffee? – Beragampengetahuan

Colombia is the third-largest coffee producer in the world. While quantity doesn’t usually equal quality beans, Colombia is the rare exception to this rule. They grow millions of tonnes of premium Arabica specialty coffee each year.

What’s their secret? Why is the coffee so good? And what makes it so special that coffee lovers worldwide seek out Colombian beans? Keep reading for the answers to those questions and many more!

What is Colombian coffee?

Colombian coffee is coffee grown in the South American nation of Colombia. It is the world’s third-largest producer of coffee beans, after Brazil and Vietnam. However, it distinguishes itself from those two by growing almost exclusively high-quality Arabica beans for export. 

Coffee is a big business in Colombia. In 2021, Colombia exported $3.22 billion in coffee, mostly to the USA, Canada, and Belgium (1). That makes it the country’s third most exported product and a key driver of the Colombian economy.

What Is Juan Valdez Coffee?

Juan Valdez is a fictional caricature of a Colombian coffee farmer. He was developed by an ad agency in the 1950s to promote the quality of 100% Colombian coffee beans. Juan Valdez has since become one of the longest-running and most successful advertising campaigns in history – and not just in the coffee industry. For many consumers, the name and image are synonymous with Colombian coffee and culture.

Why is Colombian coffee special?

Colombian coffee is famous for its high quality and crowd-pleasing flavors. Colombia is blessed with ideal coffee-growing conditions due to the Andes and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain ranges. The best beans are produced at high elevations, over 1,200 meters, in rich volcanic soil, and with a mild and sunny climate (2).

The resulting Arabica coffee is known for its sweet flavors, bright acidity, and rich aroma.

What is the Difference Between Colombian Coffee and Other Beans?

Colombia is different from other growing regions because it produces such a high volume of high-end coffee. Other major producers, like Vietnam and Brazil, export large quantities of lower-quality Arabica or Robusta beans. Colombia coffee growers favor several different varieties of coffee, but they are all gourmet Arabica beans.

Why is Colombian coffee so good?

Colombian coffee is also impressive for its versatility, which stems from its wonderful balance of flavors. If you want to buy Colombian coffee, you can find excellent light and dark roasts, single origins, micro lots, and espresso blends. And you can brew a delicious cup of Colombian coffee using nearly any brewing method, including French press, espresso, and pour over.

Where Is Colombia’s Coffee Produced?

Colombia is entirely within the global coffee belt, which spans from 25 degrees north to 30 degrees south of the equator, so coffee is grown throughout Colombia. However, most coffee is grown in the Colombian Coffee Triangle, also known as the Coffee Growing Axis (or the Eje Cafetero in Spanish). Part of the Paisa region is a rural area with four departments: Tolima, Caldas, Quindio, and Risaralda. 

Many sites within this region were named to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2011 as part of the Coffee Cultural Landscape. Visiting the area is a fantastic way to learn more about Colombian coffee and taste some of the best beans at the source. 

Learn more about where to go and how to plan a visit to a coffee plantation in this video:

What are the Colombian coffee-growing regions?

Colombian coffee production occurs in four principal zones – North, South, Central, and East – each housing several distinct growing regions.

• The North regions are La Guajira, Magdalena, Cesar, Santander, and Norte de Santandar. Coffees grown here are known for lower acidity and a heavier body.
• The South includes Nariño, Cauca, and Huila. These high-elevation regions are recognized for producing the country’s best coffees, with bright acidity and complex flavors.
• The Central zone is the largest producer, with nearly 500,000 hectares of land under production. It includes the regions of Boyacá, Caldas, Chocó, Quindío, North of Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, South of Antioquia, North of Tolima, and Cundinamarca.
• To the East, coffee is grown in Arauca, Caquetá, Casanare, and Meta. This zone is is small and up-and-coming, just emerging after decades of conflict thanks to increased government support.

How is Colombian coffee planted and harvested?

Most Colombian coffee is grown in mountainous regions on steep hillsides to exploit the mineral-rich volcanic soil and excellent drainage. It’s often grown in the shade, with coffee plants surrounded by other local flora like banana trees. 

These conditions yield high-quality coffee but challenge farmers in mechanizing the process. For this reason, most Colombian coffee is still planted and harvested by hand. This allows harvesters to select only the ripest coffee cherries, another reason Colombia is famous for its excellent beans.

Most coffee in Colombia is “washed”, a standard processing method throughout Latin America. In washed processing, the coffee seeds are removed from the coffee fruit before drying. This method improves consistency and often delivers a cleaner-tasting cup.

What does Colombian coffee taste like?

Colombian coffee comes from 19 different regions. So you can find diverse flavor profiles. However, two terms that come up often when describing its taste are “crowd-pleasing” and “balanced.” 

The exact tasting notes vary with the varietal(s) and the roast level. But common flavors include chocolate, nuts, caramel, ripe fruit, and citrus acidity. 

Darker roasts will taste more like bittersweet chocolate, toasted nuts, and dark sugars. Medium roast coffees highlight sweet flavors like caramel, honey, milk chocolate, and fruit. Lighter roasts will be brighter and more acidic, with fruit and citrus notes dominating.

How do Colombians drink coffee?

Colombians greatly respect coffee, not just as a delicious drink but also as an essential source of income for a considerable number of families. They have a lively coffee culture and even celebrate National Coffee Day (3). 

Most of the coffee in Colombia is made from second-tier beans that weren’t considered worthy of export but are still good quality. The most common drink is called “tinto,” sold nationwide for just a few cents a cup (4). It’s a small serving of strong black coffee, sometimes served sweetened. It is rare for a Colombian cup of coffee to include milk or cream.

Is Colombian Coffee Arabica?

Most Colombian coffee is Arabica, except for a few small coffee farms experimenting with Robusta beans. Many people wonder about the difference between Colombian vs Arabica coffee, but Colombian coffee is simply Arabica coffee produced in Colombia. 

Confusingly, there is a type of coffee called Colombia, which can be grown anywhere. It is a coffee leaf rust-resistant hybrid of the Timor and Caturra varietals. It was developed in Colombia by Cenicafé, the research department of the Colombian Coffee Grower’s Federation (Federación Nacional de Cafeteros or FNC). The variety was first cultivated in the 1980s and is now one of the nation’s most important crops.

The main types of Arabica beans grown in Colombia are Caturra, Typica, Colombia, Bourbon, and Castillo. But many other cultivars are also found on small farms or in special micro lots. These include Maragogipe, Tabi, Pacamara, and Gesha.

Final Thoughts

Colombia grows some of the best coffee in the world thanks to its geography, its geology, and the skill of its farmers. The rich volcanic soils, high elevations, and mild climate in the Colombian Coffee Triangle make it ideal for growing gourmet Arabica beans. 

Colombian coffee is known for its crowd-pleasing flavors; they are sweet, chocolatey, nutty, and fruity. It is coveted for its rich aroma and beautiful balance between sweetness and acidity. If you’re unsure where to start in specialty coffee, 100% Colombian beans are always a safe bet!