Introduction to Colombia Santa Rita Washed Specialty Coffee Bean Varieties, Cultivation, and Market Prices

Colombia Santa Rita Special Reserve

Varieties: Catuai, Caturra

Estate: Santa Rita

Country: Colombia

Region: Antioquia Department

Altitude: 1600-2100 meters

Processing Method: Washed

Flavor Profile: Sugarcane, clean, medium body

The Rich History of Colombian Coffee

The history of coffee cultivation in Colombia can be traced back to the Spanish colonial era in the 16th century. There are several accounts of how coffee reached the country:

One theory suggests coffee was introduced via sea routes from the Caribbean island of Haiti, through El Salvador in Central America.

Another account states that in 1808 a priest first brought coffee beans to Colombia from the French Antilles via Venezuela. One of these routes suggests Colombia's first coffee seeds entered through the Santander Department from Venezuela.

A third version attributes the earliest record of coffee cultivation in Colombia to the Spanish missionary Jose Gumilla's book "The Illustrated Orinoca." He described his observations from 1730 while preaching along both banks of the Meta River, mentioning local coffee plantations. By 1787 other missionaries had spread coffee cultivation to other parts of Colombia.

Colombia: The Land of Green Gold

Located in northwestern South America, Colombia is a beautiful country with a rich history. Indigenous peoples have thrived on this land since ancient times. The country became a Spanish colony in 1531 and gained independence in 1819. In 1886 it adopted its current name to honor Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the American continent.

Colombia boasts magnificent mountains, beautiful landscapes, pleasant weather, spring-like conditions year-round, and fresh air. The country is rich in natural resources, and coffee, flowers, gold, and emeralds are known as its "Four Treasures." Today Colombia ranks as the world's second-largest coffee producer after Brazil, the largest exporter of Arabica beans, and the world's largest exporter of washed coffee.

Colombian coffee is often described as having a silky-smooth texture. Among all coffees it offers the best balance, with a soft, smooth mouthfeel that makes it perfect at any time of day. It has earned an unparalleled reputation as "green gold."

Santa Rita Estate

Santa Rita Estate is located in the Antioquia Department of Colombia, in a micro-region neighboring the Andes Mountains. This exceptional coffee is produced through the collaboration of 9 nearby farms. These 9 farms still use traditional processing methods: hand-picking the cherries, then traditional washed processing, after which the beans are laid out on racks to sun-dry.

The environment around the Andes provides this coffee-growing region with fertile volcanic soil and uniquely advantageous water resources, contributing to the exceptional quality of these beans.

Manufacturer: FrontStreet Coffee

Ingredients: In-house roasted

Shelf Life: 90 days

Net Weight: 227g

Packaging: Bulk

Taste: Mellow and aromatic

Bean State: Roasted coffee beans

Sugar Content: Unsweetened

Origin: Colombia

Coffee Type: Colombian coffee

Roast Level: Medium roast

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Colombia's washed coffees are famous for balance, and FrontStreet Coffee's Colombian selection gives you a few ways in. FrontStreet Colombia Huila comes from Huila province in the southern Central Cordillera, the country's best-known specialty region, where the mountains, altitudes above 1,500 meters, and converging rivers supply abundant water and humidity. Washed and roasted medium-dark, it highlights black chocolate and nutty sweetness with moderate crema and a full body—suited not only to pour-over and French press but also to moka pot and espresso machine for Americanos and lattes. If you want to try Colombia's newer experimental side, FrontStreet Frontera Estate Sidra is processed by the anaerobic natural method—fermentation in a low-oxygen environment using a pressure-resistant stainless-steel tank with controlled temperature, time, and pH—which develops more tropical fruit aroma; roasted medium-light, it shows complex passion fruit, grape, and apricot notes whether brewed as pour-over, cold brew, drip bag, or moka pot. And for a home espresso setup, FrontStreet Premium Blend combines Brazil's creamy nuttiness with Colombia's dark chocolate bittersweetness, pouring with a fine golden crema that is especially suited to milk drinks like a rich, smooth latte.