Coffee "Colombia Supremo": the degree of roast, taste, recipe

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Colombia has gained worldwide fame thanks to coffee. And if Brazil is ahead of the rest in terms of sales, then its northern neighbor is in terms of the quality of grains. Moreover, coffee was brought to Colombia relatively recently - at the beginning of the 18th century. The first department to grow Arabica was Santander. A hundred years passed, and coffee from Colombia went for export. The sales experience was very successful, and in the middle of the 19th century there was a rapid expansion of plantation areas.

Modern Colombia is one of the leaders in coffee production. But because the country's territory is small, it accounts for only 15 percent of the world's grains. The higher Colombian coffee is valued among gourmets. On four and a half million hectares of plantations, several varieties are grown: extra, excelso, UGQ (“unusually good quality”). The most popular coffee is Columbia Supremo. Our story will be dedicated to him.

Colombian coffee nuances

Small equatorial country is very diverse in relief. Therefore, the harvest invalleys and foothills do not coincide. Colombia is distinguished by high plantation productivity. On average, 930 kilograms of grains are harvested per hectare! With such a high yield, excellent quality is maintained. The main feature of Colombian coffee is its soft, velvety taste. How do varieties differ? Officially they are classified according to grain size. This term is called "screen".

Columbia Supremo coffee must have a bean size of at least 7 millimeters. More miniature screens are classified as excelso. Of course, for a gourmet, the size of the grains does not matter, because they are ground before use. The taste and aromatic qualities of coffee are affected by: the height of the plantations, soil, microclimate. Plantation maintenance is of great importance. Elite varieties come from those areas where Arabica trees alternate with palm trees, which shade the coffee culture. For gourmets, the processing of beans, the degree of roasting and grinding are also important.

Where coffee is grown

It is known that although Arabica trees come from sultry Africa, they do not like high heat. They give the best yields if they grow in a moderately humid, slightly cool climate. Fortunately, Colombia has the Andes. Varieties such as supremo and excelso are grown in the northwest of the country. In a cool climate, and even in the shade of palm trees, the grains ripen much more slowly than in the valleys under the scorching equatorial sun.

Excelso grows in more acidic soils. In addition, to such arabica they made chips from wildcoffee tree, which increased the resistance of the hybrid to diseases and pests. But it has less grain, and sourness is felt in taste. But both varieties have an excellent bouquet, balance and richness.

Supremo varieties

The location of plantations in the foothills of the Andes at an altitude of over a thousand meters above sea level is a good indicator of the quality of the drink. But it's still blurry. After all, it also matters on which slope - northern or southern - trees grow, whether there are volcanic rocks rich in minerals in the soil, etc. Therefore, connoisseurs distinguish several subspecies in Colombia Supremo coffee.

If you like the sourness, sharpness and rich chocolate body of the drink, then choose Antioquia. This subspecies is ideal for making espresso. "Colombia Supremo Quindio" comes from the department of the same name. It is located off the Pacific coast, in the west of the country, on the mountain slopes of the Andes. In 2011, this department was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List for its unique landscape. If we compare coffee terroir with wine terroir, then we can say that Quindio is the Côte d'Or of Colombia.

Processing

The country exports Colombia Supremo coffee beans. But you should not assume that they do not undergo processing, albeit primary, on the territory of the producing state. Firstly, the coffee that was grown in environmentally friendly conditions, without chemicals is highly valued.fertilizers. The crop is usually harvested by hand. The grains are washed and dried. Some firms roast coffee.

Supremo has a rich chocolate flavor. And to emphasize it even more, they use strong roasting. This coffee is perfect for espresso. But it is equally good for making a drink in a cezve or a French press. Some firms grind coffee and pack it in vacuum packaging. The degree of grinding of the grains determines how the drink should be brewed.

Gastronomic quality

But the lion's share of Colombia's exports are raw grains. Firms-importers fry them at their own discretion. Some of the coffee beans are ground to varying degrees. Thus, the Russian consumer receives a prefabricated product, which both Colombian planters and distributors have worked on. For example, in reviews of Colombia Supremo coffee from Jardine, consumers emphasize that the drink has a pronounced chocolate body. But this is achieved by deep roasting the beans.

From this coffee, if you believe the reviews, you get an excellent, balanced espresso - bright, slightly spicy, with a rich aroma. The sourness of the drink is insignificant, similar to tangerine. As the coffee cools, it intensifies. On the palate, notes of almonds and sweet fruits are felt. In coffees from other brands, where the roast is not as strong, soft, creamy notes appear more. Sourness in such a product is actually not felt. Dominates the tastechocolate that does not disappear even if milk is added to the drink. The bouquet is rich, with hints of walnut and caramel.

Secrets of making a delicious drink: grinding

As gourmets assure in the reviews, Colombia Supremo coffee beans is the best material for making an invigorating and tasty drink. And there are several explanations for this. There are several ways to prepare a drink - in an espresso machine, in a traditional coffee maker (geyser type), in a Turk, in a French press. Each of these methods requires a different grind.

And secondly, the aroma of coffee, alas, disappears and disappears very quickly, even in a well-closed container. Therefore, gourmets prefer to buy coffee beans. Do not grind them "for the future." The grinder must only be used for coffee. It is impossible to crush granulated sugar into powder, pepper or nuts in it. Coarse for a French press, medium for a coffee machine, and fine for a cezve or espresso.

Preparing the drink

If you are a busy person or you don't have a grinder in your house, you can buy Colombia Supremo ground coffee. In the reviews, gourmets claim that the most delicious drink is obtained from cooking in a cezve. This metal (rarely earthenware) dish with a narrow neck and a wide bottom is also called a Turk. Cezves come in different sizes, and it is worth taking the appropriate one. After all, water must be poured to the narrow neck.

But first we put ground coffee on the bottom of the Turks. If you like a sweet drink, add sugar as well. Now pour cold water. It must be native. Tap water can ruin elite coffee with itsmetallic tint. We put the Turk on fire. As soon as a high, rapidly rising foam appears, raise the cezve. We are waiting for the hat to settle down. Repeat the action two more times.

Firm "Jardin"

As mentioned above, a lot depends on the importing company. After all, the lion's share of coffee sales comes from raw beans. They are fried, ground and packaged closer to the buyer. Russian consumers are served by the worldwide network "Jardin". Coffee "Colombia Supremo" in beans and ground is purchased from the best regions of the equatorial country. Plantations lie at an altitude of 1200-1400 m above sea level, and Arabica trees are shaded by palm trees. Grains are selected for size and processed using the latest technologies (washing and drying).

Then the Jardine specialists get down to business. To emphasize the chocolate dominant in the taste of this variety of Arabica, they use the deepest roasting of the beans (a pack of blue). This coffee is perfect for oriental or espresso brewing.

The company also practices less deep roasting (3 on a five-point scale). Coffee from a brown pack will appeal to those who love cappuccino, latte and other cocktails based on Arabica and milk.

Gutenberg

Besides Columbia Supremo coffee from Jardine, other brands are also available to Russian consumers. Connoisseurs of mild taste with a slight sourness can try Colombia Medellin Supremo. "Supremo medellin" is one of the elite varietiesColombian Arabica. The brewed drink has a caramel-chocolate profile. Because of this natural sweetness, the variety is called "soft". Gutenberg uses a medium roast for this type of coffee. There is no trace of bitterness in the drinks, but a light, fruity-wine sourness remains in the aftertaste. The aroma is rich, classic coffee.