Colombian coffee: an overview, the best varieties

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

In the article we will tell you in detail about Colombian coffee. Let's review the varieties, answer the question why this product is so highly valued. We will give tips on making a great drink.

Brief Introduction

Colombian coffee is a coffee bean product grown in Colombia, a country in the northwest of South America. It is here that truly wonderful coffee is grown. The following factors contribute to this:

• Special humid climate in the mountainous regions of the country, the best suited for coffee trees.
• Historical traditions of plantation cultivation, passed down from generation to generation, making the secrets of agricultural technology not available to outsiders.
• Improved varieties of coffee trees. A lot of attention is paid to this issue in the country, because this industry accounts for 4.7% of Colombia's GDP and provides jobs for a third of the population. Some unique plantations are protected by UNESCO.

Trading brand "Colombian coffee" is prohibited by the legislation of the country and the European Union for coffee grown outside the republic.

A trip to history

Oddly enough, but the cultivation of coffee trees in Colombia was taken up not so long ago - only at the beginning of the 18th century. This business was taken up by the Jesuit monks from the Order of St. Ignatius, who arrived in South America to spread the Christian doctrine. The first mention of a new direction in agriculture was made by the Jesuit priest José Gumillo in 1730 in the book "Picturesque Orinoco". Later, in 1787, the archbishop-governor of Caballero y Gongora said in his report that the best coffee in Colombia is grown in the northeast of the country.

And yet, a real commercial plantation was organized only in 1835. The fact is documented that the first harvest was 2560 60 kg bags. Compared to the production of tobacco, quinine, meat, this was negligible, but the planters saw the potential and stubbornly increased the volume. To protect their interests, large and small farms united in 1927 and created the National Federation of Coffee Growers from Colombia.

Today, up to 10 million bags of coffee beans are harvested in Colombia every year.

What makes Colombian coffee so valuable

This product is considered elite and highly valued by gourmets all over the world. The rich and deep taste of the finished drink with a bright aroma is very popular among connoisseurs. Let's figure out why coffee beans from Colombia have such a high rating:

• coffee trees grow in climates that are perfect for them;
• plantations are located at an altitude of 1500-1800 meters above sea level, which allows you to grow real coffee;
• combination of factors such as fertile soil, many sunny days, warm and moderate humidity create all conditions for harvesting a large amount of excellent quality crops;
• Family plantations are run by farmers for whom growing coffee has become the meaning of life;
• still in Colombia, in the process of cultivation of coffee trees and harvesting, mainly manual labor is used, so all the berries are picked as carefully as possible, carefully sorted and sorted;
• Product quality control is carried out by the local Federation of Coffee Producers.

How Colombian coffee beans are made

From 5 kg of raw grains, after processing, 1 kg is obtained ready for use. How does it happen?

Only in the third year after planting, the Arabian tree begins to bear fruit. Harvested by hand and several times a season, because the berries ripen unevenly. After picking, the berries are sorted, sorted, cleaned of random impurities (twigs and leaves). Cleaned from the outer shell.

Raw materials are dipped under cold running water for at least 12 hours. Floated grains are removed as underripe to consumer maturity. After the remaining berries are dried in the open air under the Colombian sun. After sufficient fermentation, the grains are sorted again and poured into bags as a finished product. This is how you get the best Colombian coffee!

Famous varieties

The highest rated coffee beans from Colombia have different types of Arabica. The berries are harvested from Arabian trees, the grains are distinguished by an elongated shape, smoothness and slight sheen. Each grain is crossed by a curved line in the middle. Arabica is great for morning exercise. The following types of coffee are produced from it:

• "Bogota" - the variety is named after the capital of the republic. It is of very high quality. It's expensive. The taste of the finished drink is not bitter and has an almond flavor.
• "Calambia Excelso" - a drink with a mild taste and barely noticeable bitterness, with a deep rich aroma. Refers to products of the highest price category.
• "Bukamaranga" - has an interesting banana flavor, notes of fragrant herbs can be heard in the coffee aroma.
• "Castillo" - coffee with a delicate taste acquires a nutty aftertaste when a little milk is added to the cup.
• "Narino" is one of the most popular varieties among consumers due to the successful combination of the highest quality and moderate price.
• "Colombia" is the most famous variety in the world with a distinctive taste and aroma.
• "Opium" - the name perfectly characterizes the drink, which is difficult to do without after the first sample. The high price does not stop gourmets.
• "Caturra" - a drink with sour taste.

How to brew a drink

Properly brewed Colombian coffee always gets rave reviews. Connoisseurs and loversthe drink is appreciated for its balanced taste, richness and incredible aroma.

Grind grains should be fine and just before preparing the drink. Pour a teaspoon with a slide of ground product into a preheated Turk. Pour 200 ml of cold water there. Hold over a large fire until it begins to boil (the first bubbles should appear on the surface), immediately remove the Turk from the heat. Repeat the procedure 2-3 more times with an interval of 30 seconds.

Important! The drink should not boil during preparation, otherwise the real taste of Colombian coffee will be lost.

Rinse the cup with boiling water and pour the finished drink in a thin stream. Sweeten to taste with cane (brown) sugar.