Colombian City Claims World Record With 13,800 Coffee Drinkers

In a small city nestled in the Colombian Andes, over 13,000 people gathered with one goal: to drink coffee together and set a world record. While Colombia is famed for producing some of the world’s best washed Arabica beans, locals have surprisingly low per capita coffee consumption. That’s why authorities in Boyacá and the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia orchestrated this massive coffee event in the provincial capital, Tunja.

Yes, Tunja claims to have hosted 13,800 simultaneous coffee drinkers, submitting evidence to the Guinness World Records in hopes of breaking the previous record of 8,162 set in Cologne, Germany, in 2009.

Why Colombia Holds the Coffee Crown—But Doesn’t Drink Much of Its Own

Colombia is one of the world’s leading producers of washed Arabica coffee, with high-altitude farms spread across its portion of the Andes Mountains. The country’s unique geography—with volcanic soils, consistent rainfall, and elevations between 800 and 2,300 metres—creates ideal conditions for slow cherry maturation and complex flavour development. Despite this, Colombians drink less than half the coffee per person that Americans do, and roughly a quarter of Scandinavian levels.

The Record-Breaking Coffee Gathering in Tunja

The event took place in Tunja, the capital of Boyacá province in eastern Colombia. Organisers invited the public to join in a mass coffee-drinking session, aiming to demonstrate local enthusiasm for coffee and promote drinking culture. The effort included coordination with the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, reflecting a broader push to connect consumers with the country’s coffee heritage. Documentation has been submitted to Guinness World Records to verify the 13,800-participant count.

How the Current Coffee Drinking Record Stacks Up

According to the Guinness World Records website, the existing record for the most people drinking coffee together was set in August 2009 in Cologne, Germany. That event, dubbed a “coffee party,” attracted 8,162 participants enjoying iced coffee. The Tunja event, with 13,800 attendees, seeks to surpass that figure significantly—if verified.

Colombia’s Coffee Production vs. Domestic Consumption

While Colombia grows some of the world’s most sought-after washed Arabica beans—especially from regions like Huila and Cauca—local consumption remains surprisingly low. Colombians average fewer than half the cups per day compared to Americans, and far less than consumers in Nordic countries. This gap highlights a disconnect between production pride and daily drinking habits, a challenge the industry is actively working to address through events like the Tunja gathering.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people gathered in Tunja to drink coffee?

13,800 people attended the event in Tunja, Colombia, with the aim of setting a new world record for the most people drinking coffee simultaneously.

What was the previous world record for people drinking coffee together?

The previous record was 8,162 people, set in Cologne, Germany, in August 2009 during an event called a “coffee party.”

Why did Colombia organise this coffee drinking event?

The event was organised by authorities in Boyacá province and the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia to promote local coffee drinking culture and highlight Colombia’s coffee heritage, despite low domestic consumption rates.

Is the Tunja coffee record officially recognised?

Not yet. The event organisers have submitted documentation to the Guinness World Records, but official verification and recognition are still pending.

Why don’t Colombians drink more of their own coffee?

Despite being a top global producer of high-quality washed Arabica, Colombians historically export most of their coffee and have lower per capita consumption than countries like the United States or those in Scandinavia.

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