Introduction to Colombian Coffee Regions: How to Best Enjoy Colombian Cauca Micro-Lot Coffee?

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Colombian Coffee Regions

Nariño

The Nariño region is located in southeastern Colombia at the border with Ecuador, within the Andes Mountains (the Andes begin in southern Chile and Argentina, stretch across Colombia from north to south, and traverse the Nariño region). The natural geography here—tropical Pacific coastline, Amazon basin, and the towering Andes Mountains—divides Nariño into three main landforms: first, the plains along the Pacific coast; second, the Amazon basin; and third, the Andean highlands. The Nariño coffee region is produced by 37 municipalities in Nariño province. Located near 0°C latitude at the equator, Nariño receives nearly the same amount of daily sunlight throughout the year, with an average of 1,666 hours annually. Additionally, the region's location, geographical environment, suitable average annual temperature for coffee growth, stable daily temperature variations between morning and evening, annual rainfall, and soil rich in organic matter allow coffee trees in Nariño to thrive at very high altitudes, significantly influencing the coffee's flavor and aroma.

Tolima

The Tolima region is located in southwestern Colombia, bordered to the east by Huila province and to the west by Valle del Cauca province. It sits in the heart of Colombia's specialty coffee zone, between the Eastern and Central Cordilleras mountain ranges, traversed by the Magdalena River. This region boasts excellent water quality, climate, altitude, as well as professional and advanced coffee cultivation and processing techniques.

Huila

Located in southwestern Colombia, the Huila region sits on the valley slopes formed at the intersection of the Western and Eastern Cordilleras. It is one of Colombia's most renowned specialty coffee regions and represents the southernmost area of specialty coffee cultivation. With higher latitude compared to other regions, Huila enjoys year-round rainfall with suitable climate and temperature. These growing conditions not only provide high-quality coffee beans in this region but even allow cultivation at altitudes exceeding 2,000 meters. Huila is predominantly composed of small-scale farmers, and all coffee is processed using the washed method.

Cauca

Cauca province is one of Colombia's renowned specialty coffee regions, bordered to the west by Nariño and to the east by Huila province. Coffee cultivation is distributed across 29 administrative districts at altitudes ranging from 1,758 to 2,100 meters. Like other southern Colombian specialty coffee regions, this area exhibits high homogeneity in terms of climate, rainy seasons, and volcanic soil. A consistent rainfall cycle—following the dry season from August to September with abundant rainy season rains—provides favorable conditions for coffee tree fruiting. High-intensity sunlight and lower rainfall levels align with the flowering season (July-August), when the region moves away from the equatorial calm belt, creating favorable flowering conditions for coffee trees. These factors also contribute to concentrated harvesting during the first season of the following year. Compared to other Colombian coffee-growing areas, this region shows greater variability in daytime temperatures: daily average temperatures can drop to 11°C, while daytime averages reach 18°C (with nighttime averages of 4°C). This dramatic diurnal temperature variation aids Cauca coffee's growth process. The lower nighttime temperatures caused by high altitude slow coffee bean maturation, enhancing acidity and imparting distinctive sweetness.

Sotara is a small town in central Cauca, and Sotara Volcano belongs to the Andes mountain system, providing the nutrient-rich soil necessary for coffee bean growth. Coffee cultivation in this area spans approximately 911 hectares, consisting of mountainous terrain and three well-known rivers: the Caueta River, Cauca River, and Magdalena River.

Colombia Microlot Cauca Jose Cornelio Barrera

Country: Colombia

Region: Uribe, Cauca

Altitude: 1,840 meters

Processing Method: Washed

Grade: Excelso

Variety: Castillo

Flavor Notes: Grapefruit, white peach, aromatic plants, herbal tea, pumpkin seeds, delicate aroma, smooth body

From the village of Uribe in the El Tambo autonomous municipality of Cauca province, small-scale producer Jose Cornelio Barreta Montenegro and his wife Gerardina Serna jointly manage a 1-hectare farm. Benefiting from Cauca's volcanic environment, this region features volcanic soil, high altitude above 1,800 meters, and suitable external growing conditions including 2,300-2,600mm of annual rainfall. Despite the small size of his land, Barrera has always maintained great enthusiasm, focusing on coffee cultivation while continuously learning new techniques to improve quality. For example, he collaborates with other local producers to establish standardized harvesting procedures. After processing and drying, the Barrera couple personally hand-sorts to remove defective beans.

FrontStreet Coffee recommends brewing Colombian coffee using a V60 dripper at 89-90°C water temperature, with a grind setting of 3.5 on a small Fuji grinder, a coffee-to-water ratio of 1:15, and an extraction time of two minutes.

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