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What are the characteristics of Colombian coffee and how is it graded?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, South America is one of the continents with numerous volcanoes, while also possessing multiple plateaus, hills, and mountains. The continent boasts rich forest resources, with forests covering over 50% of its total area, and features numerous rivers, making its natural resources exceptionally abundant. Consequently, agriculture thrives on this continent, particularly cash crops such as coffee, with many countries across the continent engaging in its cultivation.

Colombia: The Rich Coffee Heritage of South America

South America is a continent with numerous volcanoes, yet it also boasts multiple plateaus, hills, and mountains. With forest resources covering over 50% of its total area and several major rivers, the continent possesses exceptionally rich natural resources. Consequently, agriculture thrives in this region, particularly cash crops like coffee. Multiple countries across the continent cultivate coffee, with Brazil ranking first in global coffee production and Colombia ranking third.

Colombia's high production volume can be attributed to its unique climate. Situated in the tropics, Colombia features diverse climate zones: the eastern plains and Pacific coast have a tropical rainforest climate, the mountainous regions at elevations of 1,000-2,000 meters experience a subtropical climate, while the northwest has a tropical savanna climate. Thanks to the varied climates provided by the mountainous terrain, Colombia enjoys harvest seasons year-round, with coffee beans ripening at different times throughout the year.

Of course, Colombia also produces numerous high-quality coffee beans. The western part of Colombia is traversed from north to south by three Cordillera mountain ranges extending toward the Andes. These mountain ranges have an average elevation of over 3,000 meters and are dotted with volcanoes. The volcanic ash provides fertile soil, and coffee is cultivated along the highlands of these mountain ranges. The diverse climate, high mountain elevations, and fertile volcanic soil create ideal growing conditions for coffee.

Colombia's Premier Coffee Growing Regions

Colombia has as many as 15 coffee-producing regions, divided by provinces. The most significant coffee-producing regions primarily include Cauca, Santander, Antioquia, Narino, Tolima, and Huila.

Among these coffee regions, the most renowned is the Huila region (also known as Uila), named after the nearby Huila Volcano, Colombia's highest volcano. This region is located in southwestern Colombia, in the valley between the Eastern and Central Cordillera mountain ranges. Within this valley, coffee plantations are protected from cold winds while enjoying cool mountain breezes, creating a mild climate. Additionally, the region has abundant water resources and sufficient rainfall, featuring the Magdalena River, Colombia's largest river. Coffee is cultivated on the slopes above 1,500 meters elevation on both sides of the river valley.

The Huila region benefits from high elevation, suitable climate, and surrounding mountains that protect it from harsh weather conditions. The soil here is rich in volcanic ash, with ample sunlight and abundant water resources, enabling the production of coffee with excellent and consistent quality. Consequently, the Huila region is home to many renowned coffee estates, such as El Diviso and El Roble.

Colombian Coffee Classification and Standards

In Colombia, green coffee beans are graded based on defect rate and bean size. Colombian export-grade green coffee beans are marked with "Excelso" on their packaging. Excelso grade coffee must meet specific requirements: beans must be larger than screen size 14, with no more than 5% of beans between screen sizes 12 and 14, and at least 50% of beans must be larger than screen size 15. The beans must be free of live insects, have uniform color, and possess no off-odors. Moisture content cannot exceed 12.5%. Additionally, a 500-gram sample of green coffee beans undergoes defect classification, with accumulated defects not exceeding 24 full defect limits.

Colombian coffee classification standards

FrontStreet Coffee's Colombian Selection

FrontStreet Coffee's daily bean series includes coffee beans from the renowned Huila region of Colombia. Selected from the Caturra variety and processed using the washed method, these coffee beans exhibit notes of dark chocolate, nuts, and caramel when brewed, with a noticeable sweet aftertaste. The overall profile is well-balanced, displaying soft fruit acidity when served at lower temperatures.

FrontStreet Coffee recognizes that Colombia is the world's third-largest coffee exporter, primarily exporting Arabica varieties. The overall balance and high production volume make Colombian coffee commonly used in blends. Although both Brazil and Colombia are located in South America, Colombian coffee differs from Brazilian coffee's intense flavor profile. Colombian coffee features chocolate notes with a hint of fruit acidity and a refreshingly smooth mouthfeel, expressing Colombia's unique regional characteristics.