Everything you need to know about Colombian Coffee

Where is Colombian coffee grown in the country?

Colombia has some exceptional terroirs, which are closely linked to the diversity of the country’s geographical conditions. The coffee-growing areas are generally located at altitudes ranging from 800 to 1900 meters.

As far as the climate is concerned, Colombia has a generally favourable climate for growing coffee, with moderate and relatively stable temperatures and an adequate level of humidity. These climatic conditions are particularly favourable to the growth of Arabica coffee trees, which make up the majority of coffee crops in Colombia.

Where are Colombia’s coffee crops located?

The main coffee-growing regions in Colombia are in the Andes, in high altitude, where the geographical and climatic conditions are ideal for growing coffee, and also offer diversity in terms of cup yield.

Regions such as Antioquia, Huila, Tolima and the ‘Coffee Triangle’ (comprising the departments of Caldas, Quindío and Risaralda) are also among the most renowned.

What cultivation methods are used in Colombia?

In Colombia, coffee is often grown in the traditional way: on small family coffee farms, using meticulous cultivation methods. Coffee cherries are often picked by hand.

Most of the time, the coffee plants are shaded by fruit and forest trees. This ensures that the cherries ripen better.

What varieties of coffee are grown in Colombia?

The main varieties grown are:

• Typica
• Bourbon
• Caturra
• Colombia
• Maragogype
• Tabi

What does Colombian coffee taste like and what are the best Colombian coffees?

We’re more likely to talk about an aromatic profile. It should be noted, however, that we cannot reduce a country to a single taste. Each terroir is different and has its own particularities. What’s more, factors other than the terroir will influence the result in the cup.

However, Colombian coffees are renowned for their diversity of flavours, resulting from various factors such as terroir, altitude, climate, processing methods, roasting processes and growing methods, as mentioned above. So you can find very different coffees depending on where they are grown. In general, however, Colombia is renowned for producing well-balanced coffees with lively acidity and fruity, floral aromas.

Colombian coffee is renowned for its well-balanced, yet very diverse cup flavours. Now that you know everything you need to know about Colombian coffee, it’s up to you to try different regions to understand the rich aromas of its terroirs!