Fresh From The Andes, The Ultimate Summer Coffee

Colombia is one of the great coffee-producing nations, third only to Brazil and Vietnam in terms of volume harvested. A vast and extraordinarily beautiful country, it has two distinct coastlines, one on the Pacific and one on the Caribbean. The northernmost peaks of the Andes rise here and the equator passes through its southern tip. Coffee has been grown in these mountainous areas since the early 1800s.

But enough geography and history; let’s get down to the beans, the cup and the here and now.

THE TASTE OF COLOMBIA

Our latest Colombia Single Origin from the Antioquia region, grown at high altitudes in rich volcanic soil, is a perfect example of the characteristics of the region, a true taste of Colombia, with hints of blackcurrant, toffee and apple.

Blackcurrant, toffee and apple. What’s not to like? And that might be all you need to know, but if you have the time, stick with us a little longer.

SUMMER IN A CUP

Colombia Single Origin is a delicious cup at any time, but particularly now as we enter the warmer summer months. We may not be experiencing quite the same Colombian sunshine but we can at least enjoy the fruit of the tropics every day.

Why is it a great choice for summer? Those fresh, fruity tones combined with an underlying sweetness and bright acidity are particularly refreshing on the palate as temperatures rise. You could even try it in a cooling iced coffee or frappe. Just ask your barista.

COMPLEMENTING CLASSICO

One way to appreciate this Colombian beauty is to compare it to our award-winning Classico house blend. The reason we release single origin coffees is to offer seasonal variety, and to showcase the world’s finest coffees. Coffee can vary hugely from region to region and our coffee experts go to great length to source the very best representatives of each region.

Classico is a signature blend of premium quality beans carefully selected from around the world and medium roasted to achieve a consistent and distinctive flavour profile. It produces a classic Italian-style espresso, rich, smooth and full-bodied with beguiling notes of chocolate, hazelnut and caramel. The perfect everyday coffee, unchanged since 1997.

By subtle contrast, Colombia Single Origin is naturally sweet, mild and smooth with bright, refreshing acidity cutting through. Both coffees delight the palate in different ways; it’s not a question of preferring one or the other, it’s more a matter of choosing the one that suits your mood.

THE BRIGHTNESS OF A WASHED COFFEE

Like most coffees grown in the steep-sloped valleys of southern Antioquia, Colombia Single Origin is a wet-processed or washed coffee. This means the coffee cherries picked at harvest are first de-pulped and fermented to remove the soft outer layers including the sticky, sugary mucilage surrounding the bean, then ‘washed’ before being dried, as opposed to natural coffees (dry-processed) which are dried with the fruit intact.

Generally speaking, washed coffees exhibit greater brightness and clarity, whereas natural processed coffees tend to be sweeter and more ‘boozy’. Think in terms of the crispness of fresh fruit against the intensity of stewed fruit.

For a fuller explanation of the two processes, read more here.

THE FACTS

Producer: several associated small-medium coffee growers

Process: Fully washed, sundried. 

Varietals: Castillo, Colombia, Caturra, Pink Bourbon.

Process: Fully washed, fermented

Altitude: 1300 to 1800m

Harvest: Selective hand picking

EXTRA READING FOR COLOMBIAN COFFEE AFICIONADOS:

Antioquia is blessed with an abundance of microclimates, thanks to its topography and proximity to the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. It is the second largest coffee region in the country, contributing about 16% of the national coffee output.

Antioquia is the Spanish form of Antioch, the ancient metropolis of Syria, now the modern Turkish town of Antakya, once the third largest city in the Roman Empire. The ‘Coffee Zone’ of Colombia has a strong influence from Arab Jews and many towns and cities are named after cities in the Middle East. Antioch had great significance for the Catholic Spaniard conquistadors, due to its association with early Christianity.

The capital of Antioquia, in the south of the region, is Medellin, Colombia’s ‘City of Eternal Spring’, home to over 4 million people and the country’s second city after the capital Bogota. If you happened to catch the recent series of The Night Manager you will have seen what a beautiful city it is, surrounded by mountains and tropical forests.