Colombian Coffee Growing Process Introduction to Colombian Coffee Varieties

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FrontStreet Coffee Colombian Paraíso Pink Bourbon, Colombian Coffee Varieties Introduction

Caturra was introduced from Brazil in the 1960s and currently accounts for 45-50% of Colombia's production, having replaced the earliest Typica variety.

The new variety named "Colombia," sharing the same name as the country, was developed in the 1980s as a hybrid coffee with Caturra and Timor lineage, which is the notorious Catimor. However, the FNC (National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia) insists that while Colombia is a direct descendant of Catimor, its flavor is far more elegant than typical Catimor because Colombia has undergone multiple generations of "backcrossing" with Arabica, eliminating the musty smell of Robusta beans. The flavor more closely resembles Arabica while maintaining Robusta's disease resistance and high yield advantages, making it a powerful tool for increasing Colombian production.

Currently, most Colombian estates adopt a mixed cultivation model of 70% Caturra and 30% Colombia, with the delicious Typica no longer found.

The overall coffee variety configuration in Colombia roughly presents as Caturra 50%, Colombia 30%, and Typica 20%.

Colombia's diverse topography, low latitude, and high altitude provide excellent conditions for growing specialty coffee.

Colombia's coffee regions are located between 3 and 8 degrees north latitude, belonging to the low-latitude coffee belt, allowing for two harvests annually. From south to north, ripe coffee can be harvested almost every month.

In addition to common varieties in American growing regions such as Caturra, Bourbon, Typica, and Pacamara, Colombia also has three unique disease-resistant varieties: Castillo, Tabi, and the Colombia variety (sharing the country's name). Of course, there are also some rare and precious varieties like Gesha, small-grained Mocca, Rume Sudan, Eugenioides, Laurina (Pointed Bourbon), and Maragesa (a natural hybrid of Maragogipe and Gesha).

There is also Pink Bourbon, which revealed itself to be an extraordinary coffee variety. Simply put, Bourbon is a coffee variety belonging to a branch of the Arabica species, generally bearing red fruit called Red Bourbon. In addition, there are Yellow Bourbon and Orange Bourbon. Yellow Bourbon has relatively lower yields but better quality.

Coffee Information

Country: Colombia

Region: Cauca Department

Estate: Paraíso Estate

Variety: Pink Bourbon

Processing Method: Washed

Altitude: 1,930 meters

Flavor Profile: Overall clean and balanced, feeling relatively light and smooth, with flavors of peach, plum, grapefruit, cream, roasted almonds, and cocoa. The finish has persistent tea and floral aromas.