What Is Colombian Coffee? The Coffee Lovers Guide!

Coffee lovers the world over are always talking about Colombian coffee, but what is Colombian coffee?

Beyond the obvious, it is coffee cultivated and produced within the geographic borders of the South American nation of Colombia.

This article details Colombian coffee answering that very question and serves as a guide to coffee from this part of the world. It’s taste, what type of coffee it is, the different regions and some brands you can try out as well as the best brewing methods to get the most.

What Is Colombian Coffee?

Answering this question is easy, because Colombian coffee is simply coffee that is produced and cultivated in Colombia.

That is it in a nutshell.

Colombian coffee commands a higher price due to the coffee plantations using higher quality Arabica coffee plants.

Depending on where they are grown, which region, they can have strong chocolate and nuts notes with hints of floral and fruity tones.

Coffee from Colombia is accepted by coffee enthusiasts as being high quality coffee. They are far better than regular coffee beans due to a great part of their coffee plants growing in volcanic soil.

They really do make a great cup of coffee when you use the right brewing techniques, we’ll get to that, hang on!

Read: How to make Colombian coffee

What Does Colombian Coffee Taste Like?

Each coffee tastes different due to the different soil and soil quality in each plantation. Other factors include the different climates and the quality of the coffee plant used.

This might sound like minor differences, but really they make a big difference to the result, particularly the soil quality. I’d argue that the talents of the coffee farmers play a large part in getting the best out of their plantation and getting it to produce the best possible tasting coffee cherries and the finest coffee.

Coffee producers and coffee farmers know the better the quality, the better the tasting their product is, the higher the price they can demand.

The classic flavor profile of Colombian beans is a strong sweet caramel like taste with a light mellow acidity and nutty and chocolaty tones and a medium body.

Types Of Colombian Coffee

There are 22 different regions in Colombia where coffee is grown. The three are divided into 3 easy categories, which are:

• Central: Fruity and herbal tones.
• Northern: Less acidic and a heavier body with chocolate and nutty tones.
• Southern: More citric in flavor and has greater acidic tones.

It is tricky to pin down the exact flavors and tones as unlike other coffee producing regions in the world’s coffee belt, Colombia has two harvests per year.

What Makes Each Region Taste Different?

There are a number of variables that contribute to how a coffee will taste, as anyone connected to the coffee culture and coffee industry will tell you. The climate and rainfall are large factors, as is the soil the plants are grown on.

The soil and the nutrient content of it play a huge factor and, naturally, this varies from place to place and the volcanic soil in many of the plantations contributes to making the Colombian coffee bean highly desired and contributes to their flavor.

The elevation and type of bean also has an effect on the taste. Some regions have a higher elevation than others, which means a different climate. Also, the weather is not exactly the same in every region of a whole country.

Using Arabica beans plays their part as these are more flavorsome than others, like the robusta bean.

Is Colombian Coffee Arabica?

The two main types of coffee beans are Arabica and Robusta. It is the former rather than the latter that is produced in Colombia. Arabica accounts for 75 to 80% of the coffee beans in the world, around 10% is Robusta the remainder is a mix of Liberica and Excelsa beans.

Robusta gives a bolder coffee flavor and are highly caffeinated with 1.7x to 2.2x more caffeine than Arabica beans, which have a flowery and light taste, which makes them a hit with coffee lovers.

What Is The Most Popular Colombian Coffee?

I am not familiar with which particular coffee beans sell the most in Colombia, but here is a list of the top 10 Colombian coffee beans by taste:

• 1 Colombian Peaberry.
• 2. Colombian Supremo.
• 3. Irving Farm Monserrate.
• 4. PEET’s Single Origin Colombia.
• 5. Koffee Kult Huila Coffee.
• 6. Don Pablo Colombian Supremo.
• 7. Greater Goods, Rise And Shine.
• 8. Joe Coffee – La Familia Guarnizo.
• 9. Java Planet – Colombia Organic.
• 10. Black Welder – Colombian Supreme.

If you are open to trying different types of coffee beans, buy and try 2 or 3 of these as each are different and bring out a different tasting coffee.

Is Colombian Coffee Stronger Than Regular Coffee?

The caffeine content of coffee beans is not so much determined by the location they are cultivated. The biggest two determining factors are the type of beans used and the brewing method.

Robusta has between 1.7x to 2.2x more caffeine than Arabica beans. Colombian coffee beans do not have any more or any less caffeine than any other Arabica beans.

The biggest difference you will get in terms of caffeine kick is the brewing method. An espresso will give you less caffeine in total than a French press, but the espresso will have more per ml (or ounce) when measured this way.

I would not say that Colombian coffee is stronger than regular coffee when referring to taste and flavor, just different and not any more prominent or stronger.

Colombian Coffee Caffeine Content

The question is now – how much caffeine is in Colombian coffee?

A high quality Arabica coffee bean from Colombia has a caffeine content that ranges from 30 mg to 50 mg for a single shot of espresso. An 8 ounce (240 ml) French press coffee.

The exact amount will depend on the exact beans used, the brewing method and the roast, be it a dark roast, a French roast coffee bean or a more traditional espresso blend.

Note: The level of roasting will affect the taste of the beans and the body.

How To Brew Colombian Coffee

Colombian coffee suits a wide range of brewing methods and techniques. There is no set particular one that is best.

With high quality coffee beans, it is in your best interest to enjoy them and get the most out of your beans by brewing with a French press, which allows you to have full control over all the variables that affect the flavor of your coffee.

Expect a great espresso when brewing with a home espresso machine. Literally all brewing equipment will get you an amazing coffee.

For filter based methods like drip coffee and pour over, ditch the paper filters and use either a cloth filter or, better still, a metal filter.

You will lose a lot of the flavor from the coffee oils when you use paper filters as they filter everything, including the coffee oils. Cotton filters some oils but not all, while a metal filter leaves all the oil in your coffee, giving you a fuller flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions About What Is Colombian Coffee

What Is So Special About Colombian Coffee?

Colombian coffee is special due to the high quality soil, perfect weather conditions, high quality process and highly experienced farmers that know how to get the best from their plants. A number of factors impact together to make Colombian coffee one of the best types of coffee in the world.

How Would You Describe Colombian Coffee?

Colombian coffee beans produce a coffee that is clean, smooth and with nutty and chocolatey notes with tones of herbs and fruit with a bright citrus acidity. The cup of coffee produced is well-balanced and has a medium and silky body.

Is Colombian Coffee Good For You?

Yes, like all types of coffee, it is a source of vitamins, minerals and potential antioxidants, including the powerful chlorogenic acid, which are known for the health benefits including decreased risk for heart disease, liver disease and more.

Which Is Better Colombian Or Arabica Coffee?

Colombian coffee is predominantly Arabica coffee. Arabica coffee beans are known for being more flavorful than their robusta counterparts and for being of a better quality.

What Is The Most Famous Colombian Coffee?

The most famous colombian coffee is Juan Valdez. You will see Juan Valdez coffee everywhere in various quality from regular coffee to specialty single origin coffee. It’s available in all roast levels too.

Why Is Colombian Coffee So Smooth?

One of the facts why Colombian coffee is so smooth is due to the high quality soil and the wet processing the bean undergo.

Frappé-Ing It All Up – What Is Colombian Coffee?

Now you know exactly what Is Colombian coffee is, how it tastes and which brew methods are best and a lovely list of Colombian coffees you can try out.

Colombian coffee is famous for a reason and I encourage you to try it and tell us which one you think is best!

Join our cool coffee community and take part by sharing your great coffee creations, fab recipes, eye-catching latte art and hilarious coffee memes and jokes. Find us on Facebook/Meta.

Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location