Introduction to Colombian Coffee Varieties and Origins

Colombia's Huila Region and FrontStreet Isabel

Huila is one of Colombia's foremost coffee-growing departments and, by most accounts, its most celebrated. Like much of the country, its development was shaped by the civil unrest that ran from the 1990s into the early 2000s.

In 2010 the Colombian government introduced a support program for farmers displaced by that conflict. Its central aim was to return land to its rightful owners and give them the resources to restart agricultural production.

In some cases that support helped growers move from commercial-grade coffee into specialty production, opening the door to considerably higher market prices.

According to the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC), Huila produced 2.6 million 60kg bags of green coffee in 2016, or 18% of the country's total output.

Pink Bourbon Variety

Pink Bourbon is a variety unique to Colombia, a cross between Red Bourbon and Yellow Bourbon.

Compared with its two parents, Pink Bourbon shows stronger resistance to leaf rust. Genetically, however, the pink trait is recessive to red and yellow, which is why the variety remains uncommon.

Cultivating Pink Bourbon therefore demands close attention, since cross-pollination can prevent the cherries from expressing their pink color.

Harvesting adds another challenge: because the pink hue is harder to judge than red or yellow, controlling and assessing cherry ripeness becomes considerably more difficult.

Flavor Profile

Flavor: the first sip opens with citrus, berry, and cherry tomato notes. As the cup cools, caramel sweetness and a subtle fermentation aroma emerge. The finish brings floral and nutty cream notes, with a smooth, clean mouthfeel.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

For a classic taste of Colombia, FrontStreet Colombia Huila is a dependable choice. This washed coffee is roasted medium-dark, which plays up dark chocolate and nutty sweetness, moderate oils, and a full body. It is a natural fit for pour-over and French press, and it also extracts beautifully in a moka pot or an espresso machine, where it makes a fine Americano or latte.

If you want something more fruit-forward, try FrontStreet Colombia Frontera Sidra. Processed as an anaerobic natural, it develops layered tropical fruit aromas, and a medium-light roast keeps passion fruit, grape, apricot, and dried fruit at the front of the cup. It works well as pour-over, cold brew, drip bag, or moka pot.

Both coffees are clean and approachable, so they make a good starting point for anyone exploring what Colombia has to offer.