Colombia

Producing Region

Nariño, Norte De Santander, Quindio, Santander, Cundinamarca, Risaralda, Cauca, Antioquia, Huila, Tolima, Caldas, Valle

Harvest

October - March

The world’s 3^rd largest coffee producer, with coffee grown by over 500,000 producers farming in excess of  900,000 hectares.

Excelso & Supremo

Colombia only produces Arabica and known for its two grading classifications; Excelso and Supremo. Supremo is the larger bean, retained by Screen 17. Excelso beans are the smaller sizes, ranging between Screen 12 and 16.5. A number of European countries have their specific grades such Germany, France, Italy and the Nordic countries.

Colombia has set Excelso as the minimum standard for coffees to carry the 100% Colombian Coffee logo as a guarantee of origin and quality, as well as Certification Marks and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) associated with Café de Colombia. What this means is that coffee bags will be marked as Excelso indicating it has met the required quality standard on one side but on the other side could be marked Supremo. The description on delivery notes or invoice will correctly describe the coffee. This can be confusing but it’s an origin regulation that exporters and growers have to abide by!

Colombian growers are small producers; the national average is 1.8 hectares per farm with only 5% of producers cultivating more than 5 hectares in coffee. Main growing areas were traditionally in the centre of the country; Antioquia, Santander and the Eje Cafetero or Coffee Axis. However, the coffee crop has also moved towards the southern areas such as Huila, Tolima, Cauca and Nariño. Colombian coffee can be described generally as three different profiles based on the areas grown:-

MAIN COFFEE AXIS

Floral aromas, with a pleasant balance between creamy body and nice acidity, well balanced coffee with fruity flavour, and slight herbal almost spicy notes

SOUTHERN COFFEE

Floral aromatics, very complex and multidimensional cups, bright and juicy acidity, solid body, balanced with a clear, refined, sweet and delicate aftertaste

NORTHERN COFFEES

Delicate and soft cups with an intense an exotic nutty aroma and flavour. Coffee with moderate to high body, subtle acidity and clean, long lasting aftertaste.