Colombia Supremo Grade Snow Peak Kogui Snow Cap Typica Washed Specialty Coffee Beans

Colombia Snow Cap: A Rare High-Altitude Specialty

Among Colombia's many celebrated lots, the Snow Cap stands apart. It comes from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and its clean citrus character and understated sweetness have earned it a devoted following among roasters and home brewers alike.

Colombia - Snow Cap

Colombia Kogui Snow Cap Supremo Specialty

• Region: Sierra Nevada Mountains
• Altitude: 1,300-1,500 meters
• Variety: Typica
• Processing Method: Washed (using melted snow water)
• Bean Size: More than 95% of beans are screen 18
• Grade: Supremo
• Flavor Profile: Moderate acidity and body, grapefruit-like acidity with a subtle sweetness

This lot ranks among Colombia's finest specialty coffees. It comes from the Sierra Nevada mountain range; "Sierra Nevada" is Spanish for "snow-capped mountains," which is why coffees from this area are commonly sold under the name "Snow Cap."

The Sierra Nevada rises to 5,700 meters, and its summit stays under snow all year round. The coffee itself is mainly grown at around 1,500 meters. The people behind it are the Kogui, a local Indigenous tribe, and the "Kogui" name on the coffee and on the jute bags marks beans that were grown and produced by the tribe.

What makes this region so special is its geography. Melted snow water from the peaks is used both for irrigation and for washing the cherries after harvest, and that is what gives the coffee its unmistakable character.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If the Snow Cap's balance of soft fruit and sweetness appeals to you, FrontStreet's Colombia Huila is a natural next step. Drawn from the Huila province in the southern Central Cordillera, where farms sit above 1,500 meters and several of Colombia's most important rivers converge, it is a washed coffee roasted medium-dark to bring out black chocolate and nutty sweetness, with a rounded body and enough oils to please. It works beautifully as pour-over or French press, and it also pulls a lovely shot for Americanos, lattes, and moka pot coffee.

For something more adventurous, look to FrontStreet's Colombia Frontera Estate Xizhua. Rather than the traditional washed route, this lot is anaerobically fermented in sealed stainless-steel tanks before being dried in the sun - a double anaerobic natural process that coaxes out layers of tropical fruit. Roasted medium-light, it delivers passion fruit, grape, apricot, and dried fruit notes whether you brew it as pour-over, cold brew, a drip bag, or in a moka pot.