Introduction to Finca La Esperanza in Huila, Colombia | Colombia Coffee Guide

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Colombian Coffee Geography and Classification

Within Colombia's territory, three Cordillera mountain ranges run north-south, extending toward the Andes. Local coffee farmers cultivate coffee along the highlands of these mountain ranges, benefiting from diverse climatic production conditions. Due to the varying altitudes across the terrain, a significant portion of Colombia's coffee industry operates under small-scale farming models. However, unlike Central American coffee-producing countries that typically grade by growing altitude, Colombian coffee is classified by bean size (screen size), with Supremo grade (17 screen and above) being the largest, followed by EXCELSO EXTRA grade (primarily 16 screen).

Huila Province: Colombia's Premium Coffee Region

Huila Province, located in the southern part of Colombia's central mountain range, is the country's most renowned specialty coffee producing region. This area consists of hills surrounded by mountains, with cultivation altitudes above 1,500 meters. Colombia's most important rivers converge here, bringing abundant water resources and moisture. Contrary to the common perception of commercial Colombian coffee as balanced and smooth, many small-scale farmer micro-batches of Colombian specialty coffee actually possess distinct regional flavor characteristics. In recent years, with the international market's emphasis on coffee quality and demand for specialty coffee, there has been a gradual shift away from the original bean size-based grading system. Instead, the focus has moved to micro-regional selections, where dozens of small farmers contribute their individual harvests to form a micro-batch for sale. This approach allows for direct selection of many high-quality, specific farmer coffees through batch-by-batch cupping.

Colombian Coffee Certification

In 1927, Colombia established the National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC), responsible for quality supervision. To improve coffee quality and regional certification, the Federation created the Colombian coffee trademark. This logo, featuring Juan Valdez, a mule, and Colombian mountains, represents certification standards. Coffee meeting these standards can be sold with this trademark as a symbol of quality and origin.

Brewing Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee suggests brewing parameters:

• Pour-over: V60 dripper, Fuji R440 grinder setting 3.5, water temperature around 90°C
• French press: Recommended grinder setting 4, water temperature 90°C
• Siphon: Recommended grinder setting 4, water temperature 90°C-91°C
• AeroPress: Recommended grinder setting 3.5, water temperature 90°C

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473