Recommended Colombia Coffee

Coffee was first introduced to Colombia in 1808 by a priest from the French Antilles via Venezuela. Today the country is the second largest producer after Brazil, with an annual production of 13 million bags of 60 kg each, compared to Brazil's 22 million bags. Coffee's place in Colombia is illustrated by the fact that all vehicles entering the country must be sprayed to avoid inadvertent disease and damage to coffee trees.

Colombia coffee is one of the few single-origin coffees sold worldwide under its name. In terms of quality, it has earned accolades that no other coffee can match. The country is the world's largest exporter of Arabica coffee beans, while Robusta coffee is rarely grown. It is also the world's largest exporter of washed coffee beans. Colombia is more concerned with product development and production promotion than other producing countries. It is this, coupled with its superior geographical and climatic conditions, that makes Colombia coffee delicious and famous all over the world.

The coffee-producing region of the country is located in the foothills of the Andes, where the climate is mild and the air humid. Colombia has three Cordilleras (sub-mountain system) running north-south, right into the Andes. Coffee is grown along the highlands of these mountains. The terraces provide a diverse climate, which means that harvest season occurs throughout the year and different types of coffee ripen at different times. And fortunately, unlike Brazil, Colombia doesn't have to worry about frost damage. There are approximately 2.7 billion coffee trees in Colombia, 66 per cent of which are grown in modern plantations and the rest in small, traditionally managed farms.

The main productive areas of Colombia are located in the Central and Eastern Mountains. The most important plantations along the central mountain range are located in Medellin, Armenia and Manizales. Of the three regions mentioned above, Medellin produces the best coffee quality and high prices, characterized by full grains, rich nutrients, strong aroma and moderate acidity. These three regions are collectively referred to as MAM(the initials of the names of the major cities in the three regions). MAM is the origin of most of Colombia's top coffee for export. Along the eastern mountains, the two best areas are around Bogota and further north around Bucaramanga. Bogotá coffee is less acidic than Medellin coffee, but the quality is comparable.

German imports account for 25 per cent of Colombia's total exports, reflecting the high quality of its coffee. Coffee grades are divided into three grades: Supreme (Supreme), Excellent (Excelso) and Excellent (UGQ, Unusual Good Quality). Klauss coffee in the excellent grade is exported to Germany, and Europa coffee is exported to Nordic countries. Excellent coffee and premium coffee are available in most coffee shops. The difference between the two professional regulations is that the coffee beans used in the top coffee are larger, and the raw materials are taken from the newly harvested coffee beans, which makes it easier to ensure the quality of the product. Premium coffee is usually softer and slightly more acidic than premium coffee, but both are aromatic coffees with moderate particles and excellent fruit. Colombia coffee is often described as having a silky smooth taste, and of all coffees, it has the best balance, soft, smooth taste and ready to drink.