Colombian Coffee Industry Halted Due to Domestic Situation

Colombia's Domestic Situation and Coffee Industry Impact

Colombia's domestic situation remains turbulent, with protests against the government's tax reforms continuing to unfold.

According to a Reuters report on May 6, 2021, confirmed by the head of Colombia's National Federation of Coffee Growers, anti-government protests in Colombia had continued for 8 days as of May 5, and road blockages set up by protesters across the country were ongoing, severely disrupting the transportation of coffee — the country's largest agricultural export.

The protests, ongoing for over a week, had resulted in at least 24 deaths. Initially opposing tax reforms proposed by Colombian President Ivan Duque to stabilize national finances, demonstrators expanded their demands after Duque withdrew the proposal: they called for government action on poverty, police violence, and inequalities in healthcare and education.

The logistics disruption across Colombia stems partly from truck drivers spontaneously striking in support of the protests and partly from protesters setting up blockades nationwide, disrupting road transport. The situation has intensified throughout Colombia.

One of the major blockades was established in Buenaventura, a Pacific-coast city with Colombia's largest port, where goods are unable to enter or exit.

Colombia is synonymous with Colombian coffee — the country is the world's third-largest coffee producer with over 500,000 coffee-growing households. As the protests spread nationwide, many commercial activities were forced to halt and Colombia's coffee industry was significantly affected.

"Our work has been completely stopped, exports have been halted, all transportation is interrupted, and goods cannot reach ports or other domestic locations," said Roberto Velez, head of Colombia's National Federation of Coffee Growers, in a phone interview. "We cannot quantify the coffee that cannot be exported — exports were cut off four or five days ago." He added, "This transportation disruption greatly affects the coffee harvest seasons in Huila, Valle del Cauca, Cauca and Nariño regions."

Storage space has not yet reached capacity, Roberto Velez added, but will become full if protests continue.

Roberto Velez hopes protesters and the government can work to resolve their differences while avoiding disruption to the national economy.

Reuters also noted that coffee growers enjoying high prices of $1.48 per pound on the New York market had not yet participated in the protests. Given the current volatile and evolving situation, however, there is no clear end in sight for the protests, and a nationwide strike appeared imminent.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Colombian coffee is used across a wide range of styles — in espresso blends and as a pour-over single origin, in fruity, full-bodied and aroma-forward types — so it suits almost every drinker. FrontStreet Coffee's washed Colombia Huila comes from Huila province in the southern Central Cordillera, the country's best-known specialty region: a hilly land ringed by mountains, planted above 1,500 meters, where Colombia's most important rivers meet and bring abundant water and humidity. A medium-dark roast brings out its dark chocolate and nutty sweetness, moderate crema and full body. It suits pour-over and French press and can also be used in a moka pot or espresso machine for Americanos and lattes.

Colombian coffee was traditionally washed, but in recent years innovative processing has become popular. Anaerobic fermentation is a newer taste experience with several names — some call it carbonic maceration — but simply put, it is fermentation in a low-oxygen or oxygen-free environment, usually in a pressure-resistant stainless-steel tank where temperature, time, pH and other variables are controlled. The best-known forms are anaerobic natural and anaerobic washed. FrontStreet Coffee's Sidra uses anaerobic natural processing, and after oxygen-free fermentation the coffee converts into more tropical fruit aroma; a medium-light roast delivers complex, intense passion fruit, grape, apricot and dried-fruit flavors in pour-over, cold brew, drip bags and moka pot. Sidra (Sydra) originally comes from Pichincha province in Ecuador, where genetic comparison found it shares similarities with Ethiopian landraces; scholars speculate it arose from a cross between an experimental variety exported from Ethiopia and a local Ecuadorian Bourbon. At the 2022 World Barista Championship, champion barista Anthony Douglas used a Sidra from Frontera Estate, and the variety has drawn attention ever since.

For anyone with a home espresso machine or a moka pot, FrontStreet Coffee strongly recommends FrontStreet Coffee's Premium Blend — an espresso blend created for opening a café. It combines the creamy nuttiness of Brazilian coffee with the dark chocolate bittersweetness of Colombian coffee, and extraction shows fine golden crema. It pairs wonderfully with milk for a rich, smooth latte, is very beginner-friendly, and can serve as the base for Americanos, cappuccinos, mochas and other standard espresso drinks.