Colombian Coffee | Introduction to FrontStreet Coffee's Huilan Region Boundary Estate Sidra Coffee Beans

Colombia: A Nation Rich in Coffee Heritage

Colombia is a resource-rich country renowned worldwide for its "four treasures": coffee, flowers, gold, and emeralds. Among these, coffee stands out as Colombia ranks as the world's third-largest coffee producer, surpassed only by Brazil and Vietnam.

Colombia: Geography and Climate

Colombia is a country with both coastline and land territory, located in the northern part of South America, bordering Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Panama. To the west lies the Pacific Ocean, while to the north is the Caribbean Sea. The country's terrain is roughly divided into the Andes Mountains in the west and the Orinoco River-Amazon plains in the east.

Colombia is situated in the tropics, with its climate varying by terrain. The eastern plains and Pacific coastal regions experience a tropical rainforest climate, while mountainous areas at elevations of 1000-2000 meters have a subtropical climate. The northwest region features a tropical savanna climate. The year is divided only into dry and rainy seasons, with an average annual rainfall of 11,000 mm and temperatures consistently between 25-30°C. Colombia boasts numerous volcanoes and rivers, with forests covering 51.9% of its land area. The combination of high-altitude mountains, volcanic soil, diverse climates, and abundant rainfall and sunshine creates ideal conditions for coffee cultivation.

Huila Region

Due to Colombia's large territory, the country has multiple coffee-growing regions. Because of mountainous terrain and different microclimates, each region produces coffee with distinct flavor profiles. Currently, Colombia's most renowned coffee-producing regions include Antioquia, Santander, Huila, and Nariño.

Huila Province, located in southern Colombia at the southern end of the Central Mountain Range, is formed by the Central and Eastern Andes Mountain Ranges, with most areas situated in the Magdalena River Valley. It is Colombia's most famous specialty coffee region. This area consists of hills surrounded by mountains, with coffee cultivation at elevations between 1200-1800 meters. The temperature typically ranges between 17°C and 23°C. Combined with abundant water resources and unique climate conditions, coffee from this region exhibits a clean, balanced, and smooth flavor profile. FrontStreet Coffee offers a washed Colombian Huila coffee as an entry-level specialty selection, featuring delicate, soft fruit acidity with nutty, dark chocolate, and caramel flavors, presenting an overall balanced profile with noticeable sweetness.

Finca El Diviso

Among the well-known estates in the Huila region is Finca El Diviso. This estate is a small farm of just 14 hectares, a family enterprise with 27 years of coffee production history. Founded by Jose Uribe Lasso in 1996, it is now primarily operated by his grandson Nestor Lasso, with the main staff consisting almost entirely of family and friends. Nestor is young and energetic, continuously striving for excellence in coffee cultivation and processing. In addition to growing varieties such as Bourbon, Caturra, and Geisha, he has also introduced rare varieties including Pink Bourbon, Sidra, and Castillo.

At the 2022 World Barista Championship (WBC), competitor Anthony Douglas from Australia used Sidra coffee beans from Finca El Diviso and won the championship, bringing both Finca El Diviso and the Sidra coffee variety into the international spotlight.

Sidra Variety

Sidra, sometimes referred to by farmers as Sydra or Bourbon Sidra, means "apple juice" or "cider" in Spanish. The Sidra variety is widely considered a hybrid of Typica and Bourbon. However, genetic testing later revealed similarities to the Ethiopian Heirloom variety. According to some sources, Sidra is an experimental variety originating from a coffee breeding center established by Nestlé in the northern Pichincha province of Ecuador. The institution's primary mission was to create hybrids by crossing Ethiopian heirloom varieties with local Typica or Bourbon. Although this center closed several years ago, it is believed that Sidra was among the "unreleased varieties."

The Sidra coffee plant features long, narrow leaves and five-petaled flowers. It produces dense fruit clusters with relatively large and round cherries. The green beans are elongated, and the plant can grow quite tall, reaching up to 4 meters in height. When cultivated, it requires appropriate shade. The variety shows good resistance to multiple pests but is susceptible to leaf rust and coffee berry disease.

FrontStreet Coffee's Colombia Finca El Diviso Sidra

Region: Huila
Estate/Processing Station: Finca El Diviso
Altitude: 1700-1850 meters
Variety: Sidra
Processing Method: Double Anaerobic Natural
Flavor Profile: Grape, Passion Fruit, Dried Apricot, Citrus, Fermented Notes

FrontStreet Coffee's Finca El Diviso Sidra coffee beans undergo double anaerobic natural processing and are medium-light roasted. FrontStreet Coffee uses V60 brewing at a 1:15 ratio with water at 92°C. The brewed coffee emits fermented wine-like aromas, with grape, passion fruit, and dried apricot fruit flavors, citrus-like acidity, and a smooth mouthfeel.

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