The Best Colombian Coffee

November 7, 2011

Before I get started, I just need to clarify the difference between “Colombian Coffee” with an “o” and “Columbian Coffee” with a “u“. Although both are named after Columbus, the USA capital is the District of Columbia, whereas the South American country is Colombia. Not that I am a perfectionist…just kinda drives me a little crazy.

Wow, I feel better already. Ok, now back to Colombia and coffee…

Thanks to Juan Valdez, the famous fictional character that has appeared in advertisements for the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia since 1959, folks around the world now associate the country of Colombia and Coffee as one. The Juan Valdez character is used as an ingredient brand…coffee beans that are only grown and harvested in Colombia. The goal was to establish an icon that says this coffee is the “best Colombian coffee” grown.

Tell me more about whacha ya got…

This coffee was purchased from Pedro Miguel Echavarría, on the Santa Barbara Estate, located in the Antioqua region of south-western Colombia. Pedro Miguel’s family has been in the coffee business for over four generations, dating from the early 20th century when his second great grandfather, Don Alejandro Angel, became the first major exporter of Colombian coffee. Mr. Echavarría manages the company with the help of his three sons, Nicolas, Camilo and Pedro Miguel.

This lot is 2011/12 crop. It was grown at an altitude of 4000+ feet. Cupping notes include: Caramel sweetness, balanced, juicy, milk chocolate finish and retains flavor as it cools.

Not only a good cup, but a cuppa that is doing good!

The Santa Barbara estate concentrates their social responsibility projects on two key issues: education and individual land ownership.

They work with different primary schools around both estates in order to guarantee that they have the adequate infrastructure and resources to function properly. They also have a strong program to provide financial aid and full scholarships to the sons and daughters of the estate workers that want to get a higher education. In terms of their land-owning program, they help (with low interest loans or subsidies) to workers that desire to have their own plot of land near their estate or in other parts of the region.

In da-cup and on da-brain

This new crop coffee is my go-to-coffee. I love it…the body, taste, finish, acidity, and nuances make this a daily drinker. As one of my buddies off the mountain once said: “it’s good enough to make your tongue slap the back of your brain”. I don’t think I can say it much better!

Get ya some fresh roasted Colombian beans while they are still available: 2010/12 Colombain Coffee

Cheers!