Are Colombian Coffee Beans Sour - The Balanced Flavor and Rich Aroma of Colombian Black Coffee

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FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Colombian Coffee

Colombia's suitable climate provides coffee with a true "natural pasture." Colombia's coffee trees are mainly cultivated in the Andes Mountains, on steep slopes at an altitude of around 1,300 meters. The temperature there remains approximately 18 degrees Celsius year-round, with annual rainfall between 2,000 to 3,000 millimeters. Located between 1°-11°15' North latitude and 72°-78° West longitude, the altitude can exceed 2,000 meters in specific ranges. The special combination of various factors—Colombia's coffee growing regions' latitude, altitude, soil, botanical origins of species, and coffee varieties, the climate in coffee growing areas and the rain patterns produced by the dual paths of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, the terrain and light intensity that constantly change within a day, the favorable temperature range throughout the year, moderate and well-distributed rainfall, as well as some common cultural practices including selective harvesting and processing, which includes washing and drying—makes it extremely suitable for coffee growth, with mild climate, humid air, and harvests possible year-round. This is why Colombian coffee is of superior quality.

Colombia has three Cordillera mountain ranges running north-south, extending right into the Andes. Coffee is planted along the highlands of these mountain ranges. The mountain terraces provide diverse climates, making it a harvest season year-round, with different types of coffee maturing at different times. Fortunately, unlike Brazil, Colombia doesn't have to worry about frost damage. Colombia has approximately 2.7 billion documented coffee trees, of which 66% are planted in modern cultivation methods in plantations, while the rest are grown in traditionally managed small farms.

The pure taste of Colombian coffee comes from Colombia's natural environment, which has the most favorable conditions for coffee growth. But beyond that, it is inseparable from the diligent efforts of local growers. In Colombia, the area dedicated to coffee cultivation reaches 1.07 million hectares, with approximately 302,000 coffee farms nationwide. 30% to 40% of the rural population depends directly on coffee production for their livelihood. Although Colombia has many farms, their areas are not large. Each farm's area is only about 2 hectares, and more than 80% of coffee plantations have only about 5,000 coffee trees, averaging 3,000 trees. This shows that Colombia's agriculture is of the small farm type. Locals plant tall trees or banana trees around the coffee trees. During the seedling stage, shade structures are built for coffee trees to ensure the cool, humid environment needed for coffee growth. Due to the high humidity and small temperature differences in coffee forests, coffee beans mature slowly, which is beneficial for the accumulation of caffeine and aromatic substances, thus producing the best quality coffee.

Both in terms of yield and quality, Medellin-produced coffee is the most highly regarded in Colombia. Its characteristics include full-bodied coffee beans, rich nutrition, moderate acidity, good balance, strong aroma, and a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Besides Medellin, the capitals of two neighboring southern provinces, Armenia and Manizales, are also famous coffee-producing regions. They originally belonged to the Antioquia province where Medellin is located. The latter had a Caldas football team that participated in the final Toyota Cup. These three places form the world-famous "Coffee Zone."

Knowledge Point

Colombian beans have Special Grade (SUPERMO) as the highest grade, followed by Upper Grade (EXCELSO); however, only Special Grade coffee with bean size 18 (diameter 18/64 inches) or larger can be classified as specialty coffee.

In Summary

FrontStreet Coffee is a research center dedicated to coffee, delighted to share coffee knowledge with everyone. Our unreserved sharing is purely to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Every month, we hold three low-discount coffee events because FrontStreet Coffee wants to let more friends enjoy the best coffee at the lowest possible price. This has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for the past 6 years!

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