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Characteristics and Flavor Profile of Colombian Coffee Beans: Hand Drip, Grind Settings, Ratios, and Brewing Methods

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Colombian coffee beans have earned a reputation in the coffee world comparable to jade in the gemstone industry - naturally flawless and exceptionally elegant. They are known for their heavy density, rich nutrients, intense aroma, and wonderfully smooth, soft mouthfeel with exceptional balance. The brewed coffee displays an emerald-like color

Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style).

When it comes to Colombia, the American TV series "Narcos" immediately comes to mind. Don't be misled by that. As FrontStreet Coffee knows, Colombia's coca cultivation area is shrinking year by year, and Colombia is also famous for football and coffee.

Colombian coffee is one of the few single-origin coffees sold under a country name in the world. In terms of quality, it has received acclaim that other coffees cannot match. Compared with other producing countries, Colombia is more concerned with product development and production promotion. It is this point, combined with its superior geographical and climatic conditions, that makes Colombian coffee high-quality, delicious, and renowned worldwide.

Colombia is rich in natural resources, with coffee, flowers, gold, and emeralds especially known as the "four treasures." In 1808, a priest first introduced coffee to Colombia from the French Antilles via Venezuela. Today, the country is the second-largest coffee producer after Brazil, the world's largest exporter of Arabica coffee beans, and the world's largest exporter of washed coffee beans. FrontStreet Coffee's Colombian coffee is often described as having a silky smooth texture. Among all coffees, it has the best balance, with a soft and smooth taste that can be enjoyed anytime. It has received acclaim that other coffees cannot match: it's known as "green gold."

Colombia is located in the northern part of South America, bordering Venezuela and Brazil to the east, Ecuador and Peru to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, connected to Panama to the northwest, and facing the Caribbean Sea to the north. Most of Colombia's mainland is located between 4° and 12° north latitude, situated in the coffee belt.

Colombia's coffee-producing regions are concentrated in the Andes Mountains, where the climate is mild, the air is humid, and the rainfall is appropriate, providing an excellent growing environment for coffee.

Colombian Coffee Regions

The most well-known coffee-producing region in Colombia is "MAM," which includes Medellin, Armenia, and Manizales.

Colombia's specialty coffee bean-producing regions are mainly in the south, with an average altitude of over 1,500 meters, including San Augustin in Huila, Popayan in Cauca, Nariño, and Tolima. Coffee beans from these places have delicate acidity and berry aromas, with caramel notes and a full sweetness.

Next, FrontStreet Coffee will introduce you to the characteristics of coffee beans from various Colombian regions.

Santander

The Santander region is located in northern Colombia, bordering the Magdalena River to the west, with a growing altitude of about 1,400 to 1,600 meters and an area of 30,537 square kilometers. Coffee beans from this region are known for their intense flavor, long aftertaste, and unique fresh herbal notes.

FrontStreet Coffee Colombia Rose Valley

Region: Santander, Colombia
Altitude: 1,700m
Variety: Caturra
Processing: Anaerobic Enzyme Washed

Antioquia

Located in central-northern Colombia, this region accounts for 18% of the country's coffee production. Most areas within this region are high mountain terrains belonging to the Andes, but they are influenced by the warm sea breezes from the Caribbean Sea.

Tolima

The name Tolima comes from the people who first lived here, the "Pijao people." In the language of this ancient group (Pijao word), Tolima means "snow-covered." Farms in Tolima are generally slightly larger than those in other southern Colombian regions, about 10-15 hectares. Cooperatives are also popular here, with farmers sending their small batches of fresh coffee cherries to cooperative processing plants. Some farmers also choose to process their own coffee, using their small-scale facilities that can handle the amount picked on the same day.

Huila

The Huila region is located in southwestern Colombia and is one of the main coffee cultivation areas in the country, with its coffee production accounting for 12% of the nation's total. Through cupping, FrontStreet Coffee found that coffee from this region has strong nutty, chocolate, and caramel flavors.

FrontStreet Coffee Colombia Flower Moon Night

Region: Huila, Colombia
Farm: El Estorgarden Farm
Altitude: 1,800m
Variety: Caturra
Processing: Anaerobic Natural

Cauca

Cauca is located in southwestern Colombia, and the region's total coffee production accounts for 8% of the country's total. The average altitude of the Cauca region is 1,758 meters, with the highest altitude reaching 2,100 meters. The large temperature difference between day and night, low nighttime temperatures, and high altitude slow down the growth rhythm of coffee, allowing coffee beans to fully absorb nutrients from the coffee fruit.

FrontStreet Coffee Colombia Sakura

Region: Cauca, Colombia
Estate: Paradise Estate
Altitude: 2,050m
Variety: Castillo
Processing: Double Anaerobic Washed

Nariño

The Nariño region is located in the southwesternmost part of Colombia. This region is at 1° north latitude, close to the equator, with sufficient sunlight throughout the year. The altitude is mostly around 1,600 meters, and the volcanic soil also provides rich nutrients for coffee growth. Coffee from this region has a round and delicate flavor, with some sweetness and cocoa notes, rich aroma, and walnut fragrance.

Colombian Coffee Grading System

Just like any other coffee-producing region, Colombia has a grading system, similar to Kenya's AA, AB grades and Ethiopia's G1, G2 grades. Colombian coffee beans are no exception. So how is Colombian coffee graded? FrontStreet Coffee will explain this to you.

Colombian coffee is graded according to the size of green coffee beans.

FNC

FNC (National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia) is a non-profit commercial organization. The primary purpose of FNC is to be the spokesperson for Colombian coffee. It promises that as long as coffee farmers are willing to sell coffee, FNC is willing to buy it. FNC not only serves as the international ambassador for Colombian coffee, marketing and promoting coffee in international markets and successfully creating the "Juan Valdez" image, but also invests significant human and material resources in Colombia to participate in farmers' planting, production, management, and sustainable operations.

Brewing Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee Colombian Coffee Brewing Parameters

Water Temperature: 90°C
Coffee Amount: 15 grams
Coffee-to-Water Ratio: 1:15
Grind Size: Fine sugar size (80% pass-through rate on China standard #20 sieve)

FrontStreet Coffee recommends using freshly roasted coffee beans for brewing to fully experience the rich flavors of coffee. The coffee beans shipped by FrontStreet Coffee are all roasted within 5 days, because FrontStreet Coffee deeply understands that the freshness of coffee beans has a significant impact on flavor. FrontStreet Coffee's roasting philosophy is "freshly roasted good coffee," ensuring that every customer who places an order receives the freshest coffee when it arrives. The coffee's resting period is about 4-7 days, so when customers receive it, it's at its peak flavor.

FrontStreet Coffee Brewing Method

First, pour 30 grams of water for a 30-second bloom, then pour 95 grams more (the scale shows about 125 grams), finishing in about 1 minute. When the water level drops to half the height of the coffee bed, pour the remaining 100 grams (the scale shows about 225 grams), finishing in about 1 minute and 35 seconds. Complete the drip at 2'04", remove the filter cup, and finish extraction.

Flavor Description

[FrontStreet Coffee Colombia Rose Valley] The sweetness of peach, accompanied by rose aroma, has both the high-quality sweet and sour taste of black grapes and the silky texture of cream toffee, followed by a aftertaste like liquor-filled chocolate.

[FrontStreet Coffee Colombia Flower Moon Night] The overwhelming sweetness of strawberry jam and the fermented sensation of mature berries. Upon entry, the acidity of cranberries and the berry juice sensation distribute throughout every corner of the mouth, followed by a aftertaste like liquor-filled chocolate presented in the nasal cavity.

[FrontStreet Coffee Colombia Sakura] The wet aroma can detect the sweetness of strawberry jam and chamomile fragrance. The entry has strawberry-like sweet and sourness, with a fermented sensation like strawberry jam, followed by the aroma of basil and rosemary, and finally a hint of mint tea-like coolness in the mouth.