What does coffee from Colombia actually taste like?
The question is not that easy to answer. It is fascinating to note that the taste of coffee varies greatly depending on its origin. This is often due to the fact that different types of coffee (Arabica/Robusta) and different varieties are grown in different regions of the world. In Colombia, Arabica coffee is used, some varieties are for example: Colombia, Caturro, Castillo, Bourbon, etc. And the different coffee plants produce different tastes.
What's even more interesting is that the taste of coffee of the same variety varies depending on the region where it is grown. An Arabica coffee variety Castillo from Colombia, for example, is not the same as a Castillo from Colombia.
What typical flavors do the different coffee growing regions in Colombia produce?
Strong and chocolatey Colombian coffees tend to come from the northern and eastern growing regions. It starts in the high mountains on the Caribbean coast near Santa Marta in the department (state) "Magdalena" via "Cesar" (dark green) to the "departamentos" "Santander" and "North Santander" (light blue/red). In the central capital region "Cundinamarca" (light red) the coffee also tends to be strong and chocolatey.
The milder and fruity coffees with more acidity tend to come from the more southern and western growing areas of Colombia, such as Antioquia (light green) or the famous "eje-cafetero", the coffee zone (framed in black) & Tolima (blue next to/under the eje-cafetero). These usually have floral notes, a certain sweetness and can have various fruit notes, such as citrus fruits, peach, etc.
This shows that the taste is influenced not only by the coffee plant, but also by environmental factors. One such factor is the soil and the nutrients it contains. Or the climate, which influences the ripening time. The different ripening times, in turn, make different aromas stronger or weaker. These are the main reasons for the different tastes depending on the growing region.
Try one of our coffees from Colombia and tell us what you like!
