Colombian coffee

In short, to give the many small, family-run coffee plantations the opportunity to get the best out of their coffee and at the same time enable them to make real progress:

Step by step towards greater sustainability and growing beyond the daily struggle for a minimum standard of living.

In order to learn what is important in cultivation, we visited many coffee plantations in the region on our trip. And we saw that there are a wide variety of approaches and methods: from cultivation to harvesting to processing. Each coffee farm has its own composition of methods and strategies, adapted to the respective local circumstances.

These coffee plantations can be roughly divided into two categories:

1. Larger plantations owned by people with financial muscle behind them
2. Small plantations owned by the coffee farmers' families, without financial flexibility, often at subsistence level

Most of the coffee in our region comes from small, family-run plantations. We have found that, despite their hard daily work, they live from hand to mouth. They receive little appreciation for their work and the coffee they produce. And the biggest problem for these coffee farming families in Colombia is their dependence on the world market price for coffee. This price is traded on the stock exchange in another country, is influenced by global factors and cannot take into account the individual situation of each coffee plantation.

Each of these families has a different philosophy. And despite the desire to manage their farm more sustainably or to put more time and care into preparing their coffee, to pay their employees better, etc., for most of them it remains a dream.

This is due to the extreme dependence on the externally determined coffee price, which results in a daily struggle for existence. These families simply have no room to breathe and reorient themselves. Therefore, seals such as organic and fair trade are not much help to these people, as the certification is both time-consuming and costly and also does not take into account the individual situation of each coffee plantation. There is simply no room for such things when you have to worry about the basic needs of your family!

Despite all this, there are many very good approaches and visions on these coffee plantations. For example, high-quality coffee is produced through exclusively manual production. But the effort for particularly good processing and quality must also be worthwhile. That is why we have decided to help these families on their way to a more sustainable and independent future, step by step. We do this by giving Colombia's coffee farmers a face, letting you share in their story and creating a direct connection between them and you, the coffee consumer.

First of all, the Colombian coffee itself. Coffee "Made in Colombia" is a seal of quality in the industry. The coffee beans from Colombia are grown under the best conditions in the highlands of the Andes. Fertile volcanic soils combined with the right climate and traditionally meticulous processing and harvesting make Colombian coffee naturally extremely aromatic and diverse. The Colombians have a passion for good coffee in their blood and you can taste it!

The final touch is provided by the roasting. It is roasted gently and slowly using the traditional drum roasting method. This makes the coffee particularly aromatic and digestible. We roast the coffee beans from Colombia in Hamburg to ensure fresh quality.

So what is so special about Welttisch in combination with Colombian coffee?

Through our own farm in the coffee zone of Colombia, we experience the challenges faced by coffee farmers ourselves. And we want to share this awareness with you so that you can make an informed decision for yourself.

We help you and the coffee farmers to establish a direct connection that benefits everyone. The farmers benefit from self-determined remuneration, nature benefits from the resulting opportunities for sustainable business. And you know exactly where your coffee really comes from. There is no hiding behind any seals. This way you can ensure that your coffee consumption is a small, daily investment for a world on equal terms.

And if you don't want to settle for photos, videos and stories, then we have the ultimate experience for you: Come with us to Colombia on a journey to the roots of your coffee. You can find out more about it here .

Coffee cultivation in Colombia:

When it comes to growing coffee, the geographical location is particularly important. Arabica coffee is grown in Colombia. This grows particularly well at higher altitudes. Therefore, the coffee growing areas in Colombia are located in the Andes mountain ranges. There, the combination of fertile soil and a suitable climate with moderate heat and high rainfall is perfect.

If you are interested in the details of coffee cultivation in Colombia, please check out our blog post on the topic.

Coffee harvest in Colombia:

Due to the different climate zones in the coffee growing regions in Colombia, coffee can be harvested almost all year round. Because it is always harvest time somewhere.

In Colombia, the traditional way of harvesting is by hand. Due to the long history of coffee, most farmers use the highest quality harvesting method of all: "picking". In the truest sense of the word, "cherry picking" is practiced and only the best and really ripe cherries are harvested. This is one of the most important reasons why Colombian coffee has established itself as a high-quality brand.

If you find the topic of coffee harvesting in Colombia exciting and would like to learn more details, please take a look at our blog post .

Yes, and you have a say. Because you decide which Colombian coffee you want to buy. From which farmer and from which farm. Due to the increased financial flexibility in contrast to classic trading models, the farmers also have the "luxury" of being able to pursue sustainable cultivation methods.

And since the topic of sustainable cultivation is also important to us on our own finca, we naturally make sure to only suggest coffee that we have convinced ourselves of on site and will continue to convince ourselves of in the future.

We have a suggestion for you: Come and see for yourself! Experience with your own senses how a real coffee plantation works. Get to know the people who work hard every day to make your daily coffee enjoyable. If you find this exciting, take a look at our page on " Living on a real coffee farm ". There is a lot to discover from our finca "La Macarena".

Until you start your own journey, we'll help you with exclusive insights behind the scenes that not even industry insiders get: As a Welttisch customer, you'll receive a small e-book from us every month. In it, we report first-hand on current events on the farm where your coffee comes from. This way, you can get an idea of ​​what's really happening.

Colombia is the mother of many excellent coffees, due to the good growing conditions. It is not possible to say in general terms which coffee is the best. Colombia's various coffee growing regions are very diverse and tastes differ depending on the region. Ultimately, everyone has to decide for themselves which coffee from Colombia is the best. Not just in terms of taste but also in terms of the overall concept. Why not try one of the above and maybe you will find the best coffee in Colombia for you?

A common question is whether coffee beans are "better" than ground coffee. While the coffee is the same, there are 2 important differences and advantages to the coffee bean:

1. The freshness. Coffee loses its aroma extremely quickly. As long as the coffee is stored as a coffee bean, it is preserved much better. This means that, in contrast to ground coffee, a coffee bean stays fresh and aromatic for longer.
2. Individual taste. The taste of coffee can be controlled by a number of factors during preparation. One of these factors is the degree of grinding. The degree of grinding varies greatly depending on the preparation method and individual taste. Therefore, it makes sense for you as a coffee drinker to grind your own coffee, exactly as you need it.

The coffee bean is therefore the much better choice for all those who have the opportunity to grind their own coffee. Investing in a coffee grinder is worthwhile.