Colombia Huila Coffee Grades, Flavors, and Growing Regions

Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style).

Colombian Coffee Bean Classification System

In the Colombian coffee bean classification system, Supremo is the highest grade, while the preferred Excelso grade consists of smaller, more common beans. Colombian coffee beans offer balanced flavor performance, rich texture, and unique flavor characteristics with relatively full body. When medium-roasted, the flavor presents sweet notes of vanilla and dark chocolate.

Colombian Coffee Certification

The Colombian coffee trademark belongs to the Colombian National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC), serving as certification for Colombian coffee quality and its growing regions. Founded in 1927, FNC is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving Colombian coffee farmers and is the only official professional guild representing Colombian coffee. FNC's main responsibilities include promoting the brand image of Colombian coffee globally and monitoring the quality of every coffee bean exported from Colombia. Due to rampant pests and diseases, Colombian experts had to develop more resilient new varieties. In 2005, they finally released Castillo, which resists leaf rust and coffee berry disease while being more productive, named in commemoration of Colombian breeding expert Dr. James Castillo. Castillo was based on the Colombia variety, then backcrossed and selected with Caturra until the tenth generation F10 was successfully developed. It not only resists leaf rust but also has resistance to coffee berry disease, with more elegant flavor.

Colombian Coffee Production

Colombia is the world's third-largest coffee-producing country, with coffee produced almost everywhere. However, in recent years, southern regions have surpassed northern ones. Famous producing areas include Narino, Tolima, and Huila.

Small-Scale Farming Practices

Small farmers have landholdings not exceeding 10-15 hectares. During drying, coffee is placed on elevated bamboo beds with UV-resistant canopies above, and large circulating fans maintain ventilation in the drying room. Sun-drying time does not exceed 18 days, and coffee moisture levels are measured daily. Small farmers believe that factors on this earth—climate, soil, temperature, harvesting maturity, and proper handling and care—greatly contribute to the taste of this coffee. Comprehensively collecting farm data, continuous cupping by professional cuppers providing suggestions, and consumer feedback on preferred flavors ultimately help farms improve. This is the path of specialty coffee in Colombia.

FrontStreet Coffee's Brewing Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee suggests brewing parameters for Colombian Huila: V60/1:15/90°C/2 minutes

The dry aroma is very traditional and typical Colombian style, emitting abundant vanilla and orange peel notes. The rich aroma of single-origin chocolate emerges, and the initial entry presents very bright fruit acidity flavors, like kumquats, freshly squeezed orange juice, and grapefruit that transitions to marmalade as it cools. Caramel, sweet grapes, and Coca-Cola create a colorful taste experience.

Flavor: Red fruits, citrus acidity, vanilla, nuts, dark chocolate, with a delicate sweet caramel aftertaste.

FrontStreet Coffee: A Guangzhou-based roastery with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known beans, while also providing online store services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473