Colombian Coffee Culture
What is culture? A way of life, traditions, customs, economy, values, production and consumption, gastronomy… and in Colombia, coffee brings all of this together. Colombian coffee is much more than a stimulating beverage with unique sensory properties, coffee in Colombia is culture.
This is something Colombians know, but it is also recognised outside Colombia. “Café de Colombia” is an officially protected geographical indication in the European Union, a certification mark in both the United States and Canada, and a protected designation of origin in countries such as Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru.
Coffee has played a fundamental role in Colombia’s history, identity and development. According to an article by BBC News Mundo, coffee has driven the Colombian economy since the beginning of the 20th century and has become a national symbol.
History of Coffee in Colombia
The origins of coffee in Colombia date back to the 18th century, when the Jesuits introduced the first coffee plants from Venezuela. The first reference we find appears in the book El Orinoco Ilustrado (1730), by Jesuit priest José Gumilla. According to this source, coffee was cultivated at the Santa Teresa de Tabajé mission, near the mouth of the Meta River in the Orinoquía region.
Another version states that Jesuit priest Francisco Romero was responsible for promoting coffee cultivation in the department of Santander by imposing the planting of coffee on his parishioners as penance.
Since then, coffee has spread throughout the country, driven by international demand and government support. Coffee has become one of Colombia's main export products and a factor in social, economic and cultural integration.
Colombia became the world's second-largest coffee exporter, after Brazil, during the first decades of the 20th century. Today, according to the International Coffee Organization, it ranks between third and fourth place.
Over the years Colombian coffee has evolved to adapt to changes in the market and consumer preferences, leading to the emergence of the specialty coffee industry in Colombia.
The Importance of Coffee in Colombian Economy and Culture
Coffee is a product of great importance to the Colombian economy and culture. It is one of Colombia's main exports and an important source of income for the country. Coffee has also fostered a culture of work, national identity, and social, economic and cultural integration.
Colombia produces approximately 14 million 70 kg bags per year. Of these, 13 million (93%) are exported, according to figures from the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation.
Coffee is also part of Colombian gastronomy and everyday life. It is consumed in different forms and at different times of the day, such as tinto, perico, café con leche or cappuccino. Coffee is an expression of Colombia's culture and diversity.
The counterpoint to the growth of the coffee industry and specialty coffee is that 93% of production is ultimately exported. Paradoxically, this means that Colombia imports lower-quality coffee from neighbouring countries.
There are initiatives, such as that of Catación Quindio, promoting the sale and consumption of specialty coffee in the country. Even so, there is still much work to be done so that Colombians themselves have the opportunity to consume their own coffee and the country's coffee culture can continue to develop.
By buying Colombian specialty coffee, you are helping make this happen.
The Evolution of Coffee Cultivation and Production in Colombia
The cultivation and culture of Colombian coffee have evolved significantly over time and have been influenced by a variety of historical, economic and social factors. In particular, the introduction of specialty coffee has brought significant changes to the way coffee is cultivated and consumed in Colombia.
During much of the 19th century, coffee was mainly grown on small plots and sold in the local market. However, as coffee cultivation spread throughout the country, large coffee estates were established and Colombian coffee began to be exported to other countries.
The coffee boom in Colombia and the creation of large coffee estates led to the consolidation of a social class that controlled coffee production and exports. This Colombian coffee elite became an important political and economic force in the country and played a significant role in shaping Colombian coffee culture.
However, as international competition increased, Colombian coffee producers began looking for ways to differentiate their product and stand out in the global market.
Specialty coffee was introduced in Colombia in the 1980s, when some producers began focusing on coffee quality rather than quantity alone.
These producers, generally small-scale farmers with farms ranging from 1 to 5 hectares, began implementing more rigorous cultivation and processing practices. This has made it possible to produce high-quality coffee capable of competing in the specialty market.
Colombian Coffee Cultivation Methods
During the boom in Colombian coffee production, which was focused on exports and sales to large companies, cultivation methods became increasingly mechanised and standardised.
The introduction of specialty coffee into the Colombian coffee industry has led to a return to more careful and specialised cultivation methods.
Many Colombian coffee producers have adopted sustainable and environmentally responsible practices in their operations. These practices include soil and water conservation, reducing the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers, and implementing composting techniques.
In specialty coffee, both the quality of the land and cultivation without pesticides and with environmentally responsible methods are very important. So are selective harvesting and proper processing. All of this requires greater work and attention from coffee growers, which results in a higher price but also better coffee quality and a better quality of life for them.
Coffee Regions in Colombia
Colombian coffee comes from a great diversity of regions specialising in the cultivation of different coffee varieties. Each of these regions has unique characteristics in terms of climate, soil, altitude and other factors that influence the flavour and quality of the coffee produced there.
The 10 departments (provinces) with the highest coffee production in Colombia are: Huila with 18.07%, Antioquia with 15.77%, Tolima with 12.69%, Cauca with 9.04%, Caldas with 8.76%, Valle del Cauca with 5.83%, Risaralda with 5.99%, Nariño with 4.37%, Santander with 4.78% and Cundinamarca with 3.34%.
- Huila (18.07% of the country's coffee production):
- Altitude: between 1,200 and 1,900 metres above sea level.
- Climate: temperate with rainfall throughout the year.
- Coffee varieties: Caturra, Colombia, Castillo, Typica and Tabi.
- Cultivation: predominantly traditional coffee farming, with some farms using more modern production systems.
- Antioquia (15.77% of the country's coffee production):
- Altitude: between 1,200 and 2,000 metres above sea level.
- Climate: temperate with rainfall throughout the year.
- Coffee varieties: Caturra, Colombia, Castillo, Typica and Bourbon.
- Cultivation: predominantly traditional coffee farming, with some more modern production systems.
- Tolima (12.69% of the country's coffee production):
- Altitude: between 1,200 and 2,000 metres above sea level.
- Climate: warm with rainfall throughout the year.
- Coffee varieties: Caturra, Colombia, Castillo and Tabi.
- Cultivation: predominantly traditional coffee farming, with some more modern production systems.
- Cauca (9.04% of the country's coffee production):
- Altitude: between 1,200 and 2,200 metres above sea level.
- Climate: temperate with rainfall throughout the year.
- Coffee varieties: Caturra, Colombia, Castillo and Typica.
- Cultivation: predominantly traditional coffee farming, with some more modern production systems.
- Caldas (8.76% of the country's coffee production):
- Altitude: between 1,400 and 2,000 metres above sea level.
- Climate: temperate with rainfall throughout the year.
- Coffee varieties: Caturra, Colombia, Castillo, Typica and Tabi.
- Cultivation: predominantly traditional coffee farming, with some more modern production systems.
- Valle del Cauca (5.83% of the country's coffee production):
- Altitude: between 1,000 and 2,000 metres above sea level.
- Climate: warm with rainfall throughout the year.
- Coffee varieties: Caturra, Colombia, Castillo, Typica and Bourbon.
- Cultivation: predominantly traditional coffee farming, with some more modern production systems.
- Risaralda (5.99% of the country's coffee production):
- Altitude: between 1,200 and 1,800 metres above sea level.
- Climate: temperate with rainfall throughout the year.
- Coffee varieties: Caturra, Colombia, Castillo, Typica and Bourbon.
- Cultivation: predominantly traditional coffee farming, with some more modern production systems.
- Nariño (4.37% of the country's coffee production):
- Altitude: between 1,800 and 2,100 metres above sea level.
- Climate: cool with rainfall throughout the year.
- Coffee varieties: Caturra, Colombia, Castillo, Typica and Bourbon.
- Cultivation: predominantly traditional coffee farming, with some more modern production systems.
- Santander (4.78% of the country's coffee production):
- Altitude: between 1,200 and 1,800 metres above sea level.
- Climate: temperate with rainfall throughout the year.
- Coffee varieties: Caturra, Colombia, Castillo, Typica and Bourbon.
- Cultivation: predominantly traditional coffee farming, with some more modern production systems.
- Cundinamarca (3.34% of the country's coffee production):
- Altitude: between 1,200 and 2,000 metres above sea level.
- Climate: warm with rainfall throughout the year.
- Coffee varieties: Caturra, Colombia, Castillo and Typica.
- Cultivation: predominantly traditional coffee farming, with some more modern production systems.
Each of these departments has its own microclimate and coffee varieties, resulting in unique flavour and quality profiles in the coffee produced there. In addition, Colombian specialty coffee producers use different processes and experiment with new ones, such as anaerobic fermentation. Therefore, it is not really appropriate to speak of a typical Colombian coffee profile.
With the growth and development of specialty coffee in Colombia and around the world, the range of varieties and flavour profiles found in each coffee-growing region is becoming much broader.
Colombian Coffee-Growing Zones
Map of the coffee-growing regions in Colombia. These departments can be grouped into several coffee-growing zones. This helps us understand some of the differences we can find in Colombian coffee from different departments and even within the same department.
Northern Zone: Santander, Norte de Santander, La Guajira, Magdalena and Cesar. This zone has an average temperature of 24°C and average annual rainfall of 1,800 mm. Coffee blossoms in March, as the rainy season approaches, and is harvested in October/November, when it ends.
North-Central and South-Central Zones: Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Antioquia, Caldas, Quindío and Risaralda. These zones have an average temperature of 18°C and average annual rainfall of 2,000 mm. In the north-central zone, the main harvest season is from October to December, at the end of the second wet season. However, there is a second harvest in May and June, when the first wet season ends.
Southern Zone: Huila, Tolima, Cauca, Valle del Cauca and Nariño. This zone has an average temperature of 20°C and average annual rainfall of 1,800 mm. The main harvest is from September to December.
Eastern Zone: Arauca, Casanare and Meta. This zone has an average temperature of 24°C and average annual rainfall of 2,000 mm. The main harvest is from October to February.
Colombian Coffee Harvest Season
Due to its geographical location and the different altitudes and climates in each producing region, two main coffee harvest seasons can be found in Colombia.
The first Colombian coffee harvest takes place between April and June, while the second season occurs between September and December. However, the harvest season may vary from one region to another, and even within the same region there may be different harvest dates depending on altitude and other climatic factors.
For example, in the Huila region, located in southern Colombia, the main harvest takes place between September and December, while in Nariño, in the southwest of the country, the main harvest occurs between April and June. In Antioquia, in central Colombia, the main harvest is in June and July.
The quality of Colombian coffee can vary depending on the harvest season, and in general the mid-year harvest (April-June) is considered to produce better-quality and larger coffee beans, while the end-of-year harvest (September-December) produces smaller, lower-quality beans.
Colombian Coffee Growers and Their Work
The work of coffee growers in producing specialty coffee is extremely important, and Colombian coffee is no exception. Their daily work has a direct impact on the quality of the coffee produced.
Coffee growers focused on specialty coffee in Colombia are generally small-scale producers with farms of between 1 and 5 hectares, committed to sustainable cultivation practices and the production of high-quality beans.
According to the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, these coffee growers have worked tirelessly to improve their cultivation and processing techniques over the years. This organisation also provides advice to Colombian coffee growers to help them improve their production and ensure they are using sustainable practices.
Many Colombian coffee growers work in cooperatives and organisations that allow them to have greater participation in the coffee supply chain and greater influence over the price they receive for their beans. These organisations also give coffee growers greater access to training and resources to improve their production and quality.
The work of small-scale coffee growers in Colombia is crucial to the success of the specialty coffee industry in the country.
Cata Café Exports & Ineffable Coffee
At Ineffable Coffee, we work with Cata Café Export, a company based in Colombia dedicated to exporting specialty green coffee. Its mission is to help develop Colombia's specialty coffee industry by supporting small-scale coffee growers. It seeks to create a bridge between producers, roasters and consumers.
With this mission, it works with 200 Afro-Colombian producers in Cauca and a team of young producers in Huila. Every bag of coffee we purchase represents hope for the economy and for young people aspiring to a better future in Colombia's coffee industry.
Buying Colombian Coffee
Everything is more enjoyable when we have the knowledge to put it into context; that is what ultimately creates a culture. We want to help Colombian specialty coffee culture continue to develop, because this also means our coffee culture does too. And for that, we count on you.
In our online shop you will find specialty Colombian coffee, fresh, seasonal and roasted to its optimum point, so that you too can be part of this beautiful culture.
