Is Colombian Coffee Highly Acidic? What Coffee Varieties are Found in Colombia's Snow Mountain Region

FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Colombia's Sierra Nevada Region

Unlike other Colombian coffee regions known for their "high acidity" and "fruity notes," the Sierra Nevada region stands out with its high body, low acidity, and flavors of black chocolate and nuts. Customers don't need to pay premium prices for this unique region, and its excellent value for money has earned widespread acclaim.

As its name suggests, the Sierra Nevada region is centered around a snow mountain. In Spanish, it's called Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, which translates to Santa Marta Snow Mountain (also rendered as Santa Marta Nevada Mountain Range). It spans three Colombian departments—Cesar, La Guajira, and Magdalena—with its highest peak being Columbus Peak at 5,700m altitude (some sources claim it's Simón Bolívar Peak), making it the highest point in Colombia. As the world's highest coastal mountain range, the Sierra Nevada region is located in northern Colombia at approximately 11 degrees north latitude, near the Pacific Ocean to the west, and just a 30-minute drive from the mountains to the pleasant Caribbean coast.

This is one of the few regions in Colombia where coffee is cultivated by indigenous peoples. Currently, over 30,000 indigenous people live on this land, composed of four different indigenous communities—Kogui, Wiwa, Arhuaco, and Kankuamo. For these indigenous communities, this snow mountain represents the heart of the world, an umbilical cord connecting origins with the present, and spirit with matter.

Currently, the Sierra Nevada region has nearly 15,000 coffee farmers, most of whom are indigenous. Because of their reverence for the snow mountain, coffee production here coexists harmoniously with environmental protection. In this region, coffee cultivation emphasizes protecting soil and water sources, increasing the sustainability and diversity of local ecosystems. Their life philosophy, environmentally friendly production methods, and work patterns have enabled their estates to obtain various certifications supporting sustainable development, including organic and fair trade certifications.

The Sierra Nevada coffee is not actually grown on the snow mountain itself—as few plants could survive on its summit. Instead, coffee from the Sierra Nevada region is typically cultivated at altitudes between 900 to 1,600 meters, where the average annual temperature is around 24°C and average annual precipitation is approximately 2,200mm. The Sierra Nevada area has extreme altitude variations, creating different climates from cold to tropical. The unique microclimate of mountainous regions, fertile soil nourished by snow mountain meltwater, and abundant rainfall all create highly favorable environmental conditions for coffee cultivation.

Most coffee here is grown on slopes, with some plots having inclines reaching up to 80 degrees. Shade cultivation is practiced, with coffee trees growing under various fruit trees such as acacia, walnut, and avocado trees. This shade-growing approach allows coffee to mature slowly, fully absorbing the essence of nature from the snow mountain, while developing rich coffee fruit aromas and full sweetness.

Knowledge Extension

Colombia is located in northwestern South America, bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, with Panama to the northwest, Venezuela to the east, Brazil to the southeast, Peru to the south, and Ecuador to the southwest.

In Brief

FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research hall dedicated to sharing coffee knowledge with everyone. Our unreserved sharing is aimed at helping more friends fall in love with coffee. Additionally, we hold three low-discount coffee events every month because FrontStreet Coffee wants to let more friends enjoy the best coffee at the lowest possible prices—this has been our mission for the past 6 years!

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