Table of contents
Colombia
$ 1
| Varieties | Arabica, Bourbon, Colombia, Tabi, Caturra, Typica, Castillo, Maragogype |
| How to Serve | Typically served as black coffee either with a higher concentration in Espresso cups, or a slightly milder concentration in larger cups |
| Flavor | A higher, slightly brighter acidity than its Latino counterparts with a nutty kick and a fruity aftertaste |
| Recommended Machine | The Drip, French Press, Moka Pot, Siphon |
| Good As | Americano, Latte, Lungo, Cortado |
| Price Range | $0.35 – $15 per ounce |
| Caffeine Level | 1.17% |
You’ve probably seen how Colombian coffee was glorified as the tastiest coffee in the world in many Hollywood movies. A primary example would be Bruce Almighty starring Jim Carrey. Well, let’s now talk about that very same coffee, and why a person with the powers of God would materialize this coffee in particular.
Colombia is among the top 3 leaders in the production of elite Arabica varieties for export. Coffee from Colombia is valued for its high quality and its recognizable and reputable trademark.
The first coffee trees were brought secretly from India in the 17th century. The enterprising Dutch wanted to drink an invigorating drink in the New World, so they brought plants from their Indian colonies. However, commercial growth started in the 19th century. The plantations started off small, but nowadays, Colombia produces more than 8 different varieties such as:
| Arabica | Bourbon | Catuai | Tabi |
| Caturra | Typica | Castillo | Maragogype |
Some varieties were bred by the Colombia Research Institute while others were cross-bred by the farmers themselves. The objectives of breeding are to improve palatability and increase the resistance of plants to diseases and climate changes.
But now, let’s dive a bit deeper into the landscape of Colombia and find out why this country in particular is so rich with coffee plantations.
The main production areas in Colombia include: Nariño, Santander, Antioquia, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Huila, Tolima, Quindio, Nariño and Sierra Nevada. Colombia’s coffee cultural landscape in the small Paisa region is even protected by UNESCO.
Each region has its own microclimate which then changes the taste of the final product. Below you will find the top 3 regions that we personally think are worth noting.
Colombian coffee from the Cauca region has a pronounced berry flavor, reminiscent of black currants or other dark berries, you can also feel plum and the sweetness of raisins in the aftertaste.
The region is located in the Western part of Colombia, on the Pacific coast. Most of the plantations here are located in the mountains, reaching elevations of up to 5700 feet above sea level. Due to the humid climate, paired with the altitude and some decent shade from the local varieties, Cauca produces one of the best quality Colombian coffee you can find in South America. It is no wonder they’re first on our list.
The city of Armenia is the capital of the Quindio Department. You may be surprised by the name, and so were we when we first heard about it, but it has a good explanation. The Colombian authorities were shocked by the Armenian genocide in the beginning of the 20th century, therefore, as a sign of solidarity to the Armenian people, they gave the city such a name.
Today Armenia is a young, dynamic city, the capital of one of the most economically developed regions of the country. The reason for this success is that the city is the unofficial coffee-growing capital of the country, it even houses a coffee museum. The elevation here isn’t as big as in Cauca, but at 4855 feet, it’s no mean feat nonetheless. The combination of all these different factors contributes to the quality and taste of locally grown coffee beans, thus putting the city on the map.
The history of the city is closely linked with the development of the country’s coffee industry. Founded in 1849 by paisa representatives from the Colombian department of Antioquia, Manizales began its rapid development along with the growing Colombian coffee industry. Since the end of the XIX century. the city developed as a coffee-growing center.
Nowadays, the outskirts of Manizales are filled with Colombian coffee plantations producing hundreds of tonnes of Arabica beans per month and contributing to the local economy like no other industry.
Yes, we all know how difficult it is to find a decent Colombian coffee when there are so many options. You might be left disappointed if you choose an incorrect one so we have assembled a list of the best brands for you from Amazon.
So, without further ado, let’s move on to reviewing these products and what makes them so special.
We pay attention to the following:
For more detailed information on how exactly we rate the coffee products we suggest in our guides, click here.
We have picked out 5 brands that we think are the best. Colombia is known for producing coffee and exporting it to different countries. We will review 5 products present below individually and offer our recommendations about why you should try them.
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Price: $14.64 (subject to change) |
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Size: 32 oz |
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Type: Arabica |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: AmazonFresh |
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Beans: Whole |
I tried this particular product with my AeroPress, just to see how well it would work in a camping situation if I ever had to go (the bag size is pretty good for a group of people too). I won’t say I absolutely lost my mind over the flavor, but what I can say is that it was worth every penny. The flavor is sophisticated, the beans are all in-tact and easy to grind, and the roast is just immaculate. Definitely recommended.AmazonFresh is generally known to get their hands on some of the best products available in Central and South America, and this one is no exception. The price-to-amount ratio is also pretty good. $14 for 32 ounces is in my personal opinion a steal, especially for high-quality Colombian beans.
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Price: $16.99 (subject to change) |
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Size: 32 oz |
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Type: Arabica |
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Roast: Medium-Dark |
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Producer: Don Pablo |
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Beans: Whole |
Don Pablo Colombian Supremo is a mild, sweet and smooth coffee with a rich taste. It is a whole bean coffee produced and ethically sourced directly from Colombia. To be completely honest though, I wasn’t planning on buying this particular product. I had seen it when I was just browsing around looking for good options but had a friend of mine not recommended it, I would’ve never tried it.
The flavor and aroma of the beans can immediately be felt without even tasting. How? Well, you’ll feel that once you open the bag. Imagine that amazingly pleasant coffee smell when you walk into a coffee shop, that’s what you’ll get with these beans.
The price is pretty good for organic Colombian coffee beans. $17 for 32 ounces may not be as cheap as our previous product, but this is a bit better in quality in my opinion. Highly recommended.
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Price: $15.99 (subject to change) |
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Size: 16 oz |
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Type: Arabica |
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Roast: Medium-Dark |
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Producer: Java Planet |
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Beans: Whole |
Java Planet Colombia Organic is a coffee with low acidity that is known for its beautiful tones. The company very clearly notes that absolutely no pesticides or chemicals are used to enhance the flavors or speed up the ripening process. The farmers simply do the minimum maintenance work and let nature do the rest.
After harvesting, the beans are wet-processed and freshly roasted to perfection. Another great advantage is that after roasting, the beans are immediately vacuum packaged in the bag and sent on their way to the warehouse. This means that once you open these organic Colombian coffee beans, you will get the same taste and aroma as if you were right next to the roasters as they were finishing up a batch.
Whether you are in Colombia or not I highly recommend drinking this coffee because it is completely on another level compared to the other ones.
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Price: $9.98 (subject to change) |
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Size: 10 oz |
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Type: Arabica |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: Juan Valdez |
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Beans: Ground |
And now we’ve reached the infamous Juan Valdez coffee. Their Organic Gourmet Colombian beans are exactly what they say, organic and gourmet. Compared to the coffee brands mentioned above, this one is cheaper and also unique in taste.
But don’t think that this is cheap coffee. Yes, the overall price is lower than the brands before, but the overall size is much smaller. With these beans, each ounce is around a dollar, while the previous ones averaged around $0.50 and deservedly so.
If you’re ok with ordering several packages in bulk or just buying it every so often, then I can most definitely recommend this Colombian coffee brand. But if you’re a person who prefers cheaper coffee that can last you much longer, then the previous brands are a much better option.
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Price: $15.00 (subject to change) |
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Size: 12 oz |
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Type: Arabica |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: Amor Perfecto & Frida Kahlo |
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Beans: Ground |
When I first found this brand, I had a little chuckle, thinking it was some kind of marketing trick to get artsy people to buy.
I’d say I wasn’t affected by Frida’s influence on the package, but here I am reviewing this coffee right now.
I gave it a try just for a laugh and was actually pleasantly surprised. Now, it’s not the best of the best, of course, but it’s well worth what the manufacturer is asking for it.
I’d recommend the first 2 products from the list to try first, but if you’re a fan of gourmet coffee beans then this Colombian coffee brand could be for you.
If you want your home-brewed Colombian coffee to have a very high quality, there are several suggestions you need to consider. Here we will discuss two of the most common methods of brewing Colombian coffee beans including the Strong brew, The Aeropress and The Siphon. So let’s get started and find out more about each of these brewing methods.
One of the best ways to brew Colombian coffee at home is using a strong brew technique. It is quite simple. The ingredients are:
Stages of brewing:
The main reason why we’re adding chocolate here is to somehow cut down on the strength of our Colombian blend. The coffee on its own may be a bit too bitter, so dark chocolate helps reduce it a little bit, but not as much as milk chocolate would.
I recommend you use a Moka Pot for brewing your coffee before you add the chocolate.
One of my favorite techniques for brewing Colombian coffee at home is the AeroPress. The Aeropress has gained appeal in the high-end coffee business since its launch in 2005, and with good reason. The device creates a unique cup that combines the light output and fruitiness of Espresso with the flavor and convenience of a regular Drip. The technique has several good elements, but I prefer to use my go-to method, the Chemex.
Brewing Colombian coffee using an Aeropress involves less work than brewing with a French Press and may be completed in as little as one minute and 30 seconds. AeroPress coffee has a softer flavor, but it is still strong.
A siphon coffee maker works on the principle of gas deformation, which enables the machine to create a fully infused kind of coffee and completely filter the ground beans, leaving a readily cleanable, flawless cup. With this technique, people take the siphon and basically steam the beans, which then liquefies in the glass above, basically turning solid beans into a liquid, thus making the concentration much better. The Siphon technique allows the Colombian coffee beans to expose the acidity level perfectly so that when you drink it, you can feel the mild flavor.
Here is exactly how the Siphon brewer works: The top container of a siphon coffee maker is loaded with grinds, while the base container is covered in water. When the water container is heated, vapor pressure pushes the water to flow into the top container, in which it is combined with the coffee grinds.
When the heat is turned off, the reduction of vapor pressure causes water to fall back into the bottom container via a cloth filter, exposing the wasted coffee grounds atop.
The traditional technique of brewing Colombian coffee is not the only one. Some contemporary coffee varieties are also appropriate. Americano, Mocha, and Cappuccino are a few examples. Let’s have a look at how to prepare them this way and what flavor to expect!
Because Colombian coffee beans are very acidic, most people brew them as an Americano to dilute the flavor.
However, the beans still retain enough strength to shine through even with this type of brew, so you don’t need to worry about a tasteless drink when you use this kind of brewing method.
Another great coffee type for Colombian coffee beans is the Mocha. Generally, Colombian coffee goes extremely well with dark chocolate, so why not add a bit of milk as well and make a Mocha? Trust me with this one, you won’t regret it.
Another way to brew Colombian coffee beans is Cappuccino. I suggest you use pasteurized whole milk though, the natural sweetness goes really well with Colombian beans that way. Here is a quick guide to how to make Capuccino at home:
Although Colombian beans can be used to produce any sort of coffee, it does not imply you should. Here are a few things you are recommended to avoid while using these beans:
