Colombian Coffee Bean Varieties Characteristics and Huila Region Flavor Profile

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FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Colombian Varieties and Huilan Coffee

Among Colombian coffee-producing regions, Supremo is the most representative. The coffee tastes smooth and mellow, with excellent balance, emitting sweet aromas, with sweetness in its acidity and moderate bitterness. It belongs to medium coffee and is a premium choice for blending综合咖啡.

Colombian coffee is classified according to the size of green beans (screen size), mainly divided into Supremo (screen 17 and above) and Excelso (screen 14/16). Supremo represents the high-quality premium green beans of Colombia. The fertile soil of volcanic terrain, combined with abundant rainfall, creates excellent growing conditions. The coffee has rich flavor, with drupe and fruit aromas. When tasted, it presents harmonious berry acidity, subtle brown sugar sweetness, and a long, smooth aftertaste that is unforgettable.

In addition to common varieties from American growing regions such as Caturra, Bourbon, Typica, and Pacamara, Colombia also has three unique disease-resistant varieties: Castillo, Tabi, and the Colombia variety (named after the country itself). 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).

Early Colombian cultivation consisted of old Typica and Bourbon varieties, which began to be replaced by Caturra starting in 1970. Caturra not only yields more per plant than Typica and Bourbon, but because of its more compact tree shape, more plants can be cultivated per unit area.

Starting in 1961, CENICAFE began researching the Timor variety with Robusta heritage, subsequently breeding Timor with Caturra to develop Colombia's Catimor series. After five generations of breeding, in 1982, CENICAFE released Colombia's first disease-resistant cultivated variety, Colombia. Following the leaf rust outbreak in 1983, the Colombia variety began to be widely promoted and cultivated.

Subsequently, CENICAFE continued its research and development efforts, releasing the second disease-resistant variety Tabi (a hybrid of Typica, Bourbon, and Timor) in 2002, and in 2005 releasing the most successful disease-resistant variety to date, Castillo. After the massive leaf rust outbreak in 2008, Colombia began vigorously promoting Castillo cultivation.

In fact, in every coffee-growing country, there are many coffee regions and varieties, and within these regions are scattered famous coffee cultivation areas and coffee estates. Therefore, the names of various regions and estates have become coffee brand names and circulate as such. For example, Ethiopia is divided into famous regions: Yirgacheffe, Sidamo, Harar, etc. In Colombia's Nariño region, because the coffee comes from Nariño, the coffee produced in this region is named "Colombian Nariño."

Most Colombian coffees are named after their producing regions - did you get it?

Knowledge Expansion

In 2012, Colombia implemented a coffee reform support loan program to promote small-scale cultivation of the disease-resistant variety Castillo.

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