Colombian Coffee
Why Colombian coffee is the best
Whether you want your coffee to give you light, sweet and fruity notes or you prefer a heavy-bodied brew with intense aromas and a rich nutty taste, we guarantee you’ll find a roast you love from Colombia’s diverse flavour spectrum.
With an annual coffee production of 810,000 metric tons, Colombia is the world’s third-largest coffee producer and regarded by many as the best Arabica Coffee Beans region in the world.
From the country’s coffee history to the best Colombian coffee UK coffee drinkers can buy, below, you’ll find everything you need to know about Columbian coffee beans.
A priest, Juan Valdez and the FCN: Colombia's coffee history
Colombia’s coffee story began in the 1720s when the Jesuits planted their first crops. However, coffee production had a slow start in the region, only reaching a significant yield at the end of the 19th century. Three key figures helped Colombia rise to its current status as one of the best coffee producers in the world.
First, there was the Jesuit priest, Francisco Romero, who is widely credited with accelerating the region’s coffee growth. Aware of low coffee production in his parish, Romero asked local worshippers to plant coffee plants instead of giving penance at confession. The smart scheme caught the attention of the Archbishop, and coffee production soon spread from the north-east to areas such as Santander, North Santander, Antioquia, Cundinamarca and Caldas.
Another important character in Colombia's coffee story is the fictional Juan Valdez. In the 1950s, the moustached coffee producer and his mule Conchita featured in high-profile adverts targeting the United States and other coffee importing countries. Valdez and these early branding efforts helped set Colombian coffee apart from other growing regions, giving it a premium place in the minds of consumers.
Valdez, a symbol now synonymous with Colombian coffee, was the brainchild of the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros (FNC). Since 1927, the Colombian coffee company/non-profit organisation has been instrumental in ensuring the quality of national coffee exports. Currently representing over 500,000 coffee growers, the FNC is responsible for the marketing and production of Colombian coffee. It also actively invests in the communities of Colombian coffee suppliers - whether repairing rural roads or building local health facilities.
Where does Colombian coffee come from?
Coffee from Colombia comes from an area called the Triángulo del Café (the coffee triangle) or Eje Cafetero (coffee axis). Comprising four main growing departments, Caldas, Quindío, Risaralda and Tolima, the axis covers around 348,700 acres and is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
One of the best things about Colombian coffee and why so many love the Colombian coffee market is that it offers such a wide range of flavours. For example, central Colombian coffee regions generally produce coffee that is heavy bodied with rich flavours and good acidity. More mountainous areas in the east produce comparatively heavier, more intense flavoured coffee yet less acidic beans
Why is Colombian coffee so good?
Alongside the quality checks of the FNC, there are three major reasons why Colombia has secured its place as one of the best coffee-growing regions in the world.
Amazing growing conditions
Located close to the equator, Colombia provides the ideal growing conditions for coffee plants. With consistent temperatures and high sun exposure, Colombian weather allows for the optimum balance of dry spells and rainfall. The country’s mountainous landscape of valleys, volcanoes and glaciers also provides rich biodiversity that gives Colombian coffee beans their unique taste profiles. Plants soak up nutrients from rich and fertile volcanic soils and are shaded by native banana and rubber trees.
Beans are handpicked
A combination of steep growing conditions and traditional practices mean that Columbian coffee farmers handpick their beans. Unlike some coffee areas which use machine harvesting, this manual process ensures only the ripest berries are selected. With no unripe or green coffee beans making their way to the processing phase, Colombian coffee will produce a consistently high-quality cup of coffee.
Colombians grow Arabica
Another big reason Colombian coffee is so popular with coffee drinkers is that Colombia’s high altitudes allow the country to produce Arabica rather than Robusta Coffee. Accounting for 60% of the coffee produced globally each year, Arabica beans are the most popular coffee beans in the world, with high acidity and favourable taste profiles.
Our Colombian Coffee Beans
Colombian coffees are extremely popular with our customers, and we have seven varieties that are freshly roasted to order and dispatched the same day (on orders before 12 pm weekdays).
Check out what our customers have to say about our Colombian coffee beans below and make sure to sign up to our mailing list for exclusive offers on our 100 + single-origin coffees and blends.
Dark Colombian Coffee (from £13.99)
“This is the best coffee I’ve drunk in a long while. It’s full of flavour but very smooth.”
Jane G. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Colombia Medium Roast Coffee (from £13.99)
“This has a lovely aroma and taste. The house is filled with its aroma in the morning, it has a clean taste, with notes of smokey and berry. It’s delicious. I thoroughly recommend it.”
Mark J. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Colombia San Agustin Coffee (from £13.99)
“Good all day drinking coffee. Smooth with no bitter aftertaste”
Keith H. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rainforest Coffee (from £13.99)
“Very unique flavour. Beautiful rainforest coffee, perfect for the morning or anyone looking for a milder bean.”
Jack P. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dark Decaffeinated Colombian Coffee (from £13.99)
“Amazing, I actually had to double-check I had put the decaf beans in the machine as the taste was so good.”
Jennifer S. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Colombia Supremo Coffee (from £13.99)
“Lovely smooth taste, just perfect for a latte.”
Louise S. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Colombia Musicas Coffee (from £13.99)
“Gave this coffee a go and have not been disappointed. It has a medium body with light fruit nut flavours and aromatic as well.”
Mr F. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
FAQs
What is Columbian coffee
Coffee from Colombia is grown in the country’s coffee axis and vetted for quality by the Colombian coffee company/non-profit organisation, the FNC. Single-origin coffee beans classified as 'Colombia coffee' are generally of high quality and can vary greatly in taste. You can buy Colombian coffee here.
What is the difference between Colombian coffee and regular coffee?
No coffee bean from Colombia will be the same as any other coffee bean in the world. Coffee growers around the world produce their unique flavours and aromas due to a mix of growing conditions, harvesting practices and coffee roasters' techniques.
Coffee in Colombia is generally considered by coffee industry experts to produce a cup of coffee that is of high quality and can be described as medium-bodied with sweet and smooth flavours.
Is Colombian coffee good?
Taste is subjective; however, when asked "Does Colombia make good coffee?” Or "Is Colombian coffee the best?", many coffee drinkers champion the high quality, intense flavours and rich aromas of Colombian coffees. Experience this yourself with our top Colombian coffee brands here.
Is Colombian coffee Arabica?
Yes. Our coffee roasters always use Arabica, not Robusta beans so we can guarantee your cup of Colombian coffee is one hundred percent Arabica.