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What are the characteristics of the Narino coffee region in Colombia? What famous estates are there?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, South American coffee holds an important position in the global coffee market, serving as a major coffee production region that produces over half of the world's coffee annually. Among these, Brazil, the world's largest coffee producer, and Colombia, the world's third-largest coffee producer, are both located in South America, though their cultivation models differ. Brazil is

South American Coffee: From Colombia's Mountains to Global Recognition

The Prominence of South American Coffee

South American coffee holds a significant position in the global coffee market, producing approximately half of the world's coffee annually. Brazil, the world's largest coffee producer, and Colombia, the third-largest, are both located in South America. However, their cultivation models differ. Due to the relatively flat terrain in southern Brazil, large-scale coffee farms can be established, while Colombia, with its mountainous landscape, primarily consists of small coffee farms.

Colombia's Coffee Regions

In Colombia, coffee is primarily cultivated in the western Andes mountain region. The Andes mountains are mainly divided into the Eastern, Central, and Western Cordilleras, with an average altitude of over 3,000 meters and several volcanoes. This combination of high altitude and geographical environment creates diverse microclimates that extend throughout Colombia's coffee-producing regions, shaping the unique flavors of Colombian coffee.

Consequently, Colombia has 15 coffee-producing regions, with the main ones being Cauca, Santander, Antioquia, Narino, Tolima, and Huila.

Notable Coffee Estates

Among these coffee regions are many renowned coffee estates, such as El Diviso in the well-known Huila region, La Roca in the Tolima region, and La Esperanza in the Cauca region. However, when discussing estates with a rich coffee history, El Obraje must be mentioned.

El Obraje: A Pioneer in Narino

El Obraje is owned by the Guerrero family and is currently managed by Pablo Andres Guerrero. Located in the town of Tangua in the southern part of Narino province, the estate was initially established for growing wheat and various grains. However, when the government began importing grains, the estate transitioned to other fruit crops, which also did not develop successfully. It wasn't until 1999, when the government began promoting coffee cultivation, that El Obraje started investing in coffee production in the early 2000s. At that time, Narino was not a traditional coffee-growing region, making El Obraje a pioneer in the Narino coffee region.

The Renowned Huila Region

Among Colombia's multiple coffee regions, the most famous is Huila. This region contains Colombia's highest volcano, the Huila volcano, and is located in the valley between the Eastern and Central Cordilleras. Protected by the canyon, the climate is mild, making it an ideal area for coffee cultivation. FrontStreet Coffee's daily bean series includes coffee beans from this renowned Colombian Huila region. Selected from the Caturra variety and processed using the washed method, it presents black chocolate, nut, and caramel flavors after brewing, with a noticeable aftertaste and overall balance, featuring soft fruit acidity at lower temperatures.

The Rising Narino Region

In recent years, other regions in Colombia have gradually gained prominence, such as the Narino region where El Obraje is located. This region, also called Nariño, is situated in the southwest coastal area of Colombia, near Ecuador. With numerous rivers and lakes, and near the Cumbal and Galeras volcanoes, the town of Tangua, where El Obraje is located, sits at the foot of the Galeras volcano. The volcanic ash provides fertile soil. Additionally, its proximity to the equator, significant temperature variations between day and night, and moderate rainfall create an excellent environment for producing high-quality coffee. Consequently, Narino region's coffee is renowned for its complex flavor layers and floral aromas.

El Obraje's Transformation and Success

Initially, El Obraje focused on quantity rather than quality in coffee production. It wasn't until 2010 that the estate began emphasizing coffee quality, introducing varieties such as Geisha and gradually establishing its own processing plant. Today, El Obraje has become a benchmark for high-quality coffee cultivation in the Narino region. The estate now primarily grows Geisha and Caturra varieties, with a designated area dedicated to experimenting with new varieties like Sidra.

Subsequently, the estate began participating in local Colombian competitions and won multiple awards. In 2020, it participated in the Cup of Excellence (COE) competition, and in 2021, it won the COE championship with its washed Geisha. Later, it opened its own coffee shop, Obraje Café Especial, and established partnerships with cooperatives in the Narino region to assist other coffee growers, helping them export coffee and provide high-quality coffee to both domestic and international markets.