Finding Colombian coffee is not a problem. Finding very good Colombian coffee is harder. The advertising catch phrase "100% Colombian Coffee" is everywhere you can buy coffee, but it does not guarantee a good coffee.

Colombia is the second largest coffee producing nation, behind Brazil. Colombia produces some of the best coffees available and it also produces some of the most mediocre coffees available in the marketplace. Colombia produces only arabica coffee beans. Arabica coffee is very often misunderstood. There are two basic types of coffee beans, arabica and robusta beans. Arabica beans are a better quality bean because they are typically grown at higher altitudes and hand picked and sorted. The lower quality Robusta coffee bean is grown at lower altitudes on flat terrain and harvested by machine. There is definitely a difference in quality between the two beans.

However, you might be surprised to learn that 70 percent of all of the world's coffee beans are arabica coffee. What most people don't know is that there is a huge range of quality amongst the arabica coffees. While better than Robusta beans, lower quality arabica coffee cannot be compared to the higher grades of arabica coffee beans. The distinction of "Specialty Coffee" is the top 10 percent of arabica coffee. Specialty coffee is free of defects in the beans and includes only the highest quality arabica beans. So, when you're looking at 100% Colombian arabica bean coffee, make sure you're only considering the top 10 percent called Specialty Coffee.

Colombian coffee is named differently that other coffees in South America. Most South American coffees are named for the region in which they are grown. Coffee from Colombia may carry the name of Supremo or Excelso, indicating the highest grade of Colombian coffee. This grading system is based on the size of the coffee bean, not necessarily its overall quality. The best Colombian Supremo coffee beans come from several distinct growing regions, including the regions of Cauca (Popayan), Huila, Narino, and Tolima.

Our Colombian Supremo coffee is designated a specialty coffee and comes from the Cauca region on the western coast of Colombia. This coffee is typically known as Colombian Popayan, the tradename for this region's coffee. The name comes from the capital city, Popayan, of the Cauca region. Coffee from this region is grown at high altitudes of between 4000 and 6000 feet above sea level. This mountainous altitude combined with the rich soil, rainy, mild climate provides the perfect environment to produce a high quality coffee bean.

Colombian Popayan offers a very rich flavor with a full body and slightly sweet taste. It also offers the right amount of acidity for a very smooth taste. We think it's one of the best coffees available.

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Learn About Gourmet Coffee

To learn more about where coffees are grown, brewing coffee, differences in taste, coffee roast levels, coffee cupping, and many other attributes of coffee, visit these pages below.

Choosing Your Coffee

Have you ever been confused by coffee labels, especially from one brand to another? Want to know what the difference is between City Roast, Full City Roast, Vienna Roast, French Roast and Italian Roast? Visit our "Choosing Your Coffee" page for a helpful look at determining the type of coffee you would enjoy. Learn about the different roast levels, acidity content in coffee, and a recommended list of our coffees that might fit your taste pattern.

Grinding and Brewing Coffee

Does grinding your own coffee beans produce a better cup of coffee? Find out at our "Grinding and Brewing Coffee" page. Grinding your own coffee beans just before brewing does produce a fresher and more enjoyable cup of coffee. Great, I'll buy a coffee grinder. What type do I choose and how much should I spend? How fine should I grind my coffee? What is the coffee to water ratio? How do I use a French Press? Should I refrigerate or freeze coffee? Find answers and learn about great tips for grinding, brewing, and storing coffee on our Grinding and Brewing page.

Coffee Growing Regions

Why should I care where my coffee comes from? The global region, country, and even intra-country growing region makes a huge difference in the taste and expectations from your coffee. If you like a particular growing region, you are more likely to enjoy another single origin coffee from the same region. Different regions produce different tastes, determined by location to the equator, tropical climate, and soil differences. For instance, coffee grown in rich volcanic ash produces a deeper, more earthy coffee flavor. Visit our "Coffee Growing Regions" page to learn about the differences in coffee from one country and region to another.

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