I am willing to bet that you have seen labels on coffee containers that say “100% Colombian coffee.”
This tells you that all the coffee in the container was grown and cultivated in South American country of Colombia.
But what else does this tell you?
It speaks to the quality of the coffee. Colombian coffee is known for being unique and flavorful, standing out from the crowd in the global coffee market.
By Andrew.
Published on 2022.09.04
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And what makes Colombian coffee unique and flavorful? I have made a list of the top statistics about Colombian coffee to answer that question.
Read on to learn more about why, when you sip and savor Colombian coffee, you stop and think to yourself, “Wow! Now, that is some tasty coffee!”
A List of Colombian Coffee Statistics
#1: Colombia is the Third Largest Producer of Arabica Coffee in the World
Third on the list of the top producers of Arabica coffee in the world, just behind Brazil and Vietnam, is Colombia.
According to Statista, Colombia produced 14 million 132-pound bags of Arabica coffee in 2020.
Also, Colombia accounted for 10 percent of the world coffee production in 2019.
Remember, Arabica coffee is the sweeter type compared to Robusta, which is more bitter and contains more caffeine.
Arabica coffee is grown all over the world though, so why is Colombian Arabica coffee unique and considered to be the most flavorful in the world?
It has to do with the geography of the country.
#2: Colombian Coffee is Grown at Altitudes of 3,000 to 7,000 Feet
The mountainous and volcanic regions of Colombia provide a fertile space for coffee to be grown.
Coffee grown at higher altitudes (around 3,000 to 7,000 feet in Colombia according to Premiumcolombiancoffee.com) tends to be superior in quality.
The colder temperatures at higher altitudes slow the maturation of the coffee plant, producing a harder bean which retains its sugar content better than softer beans.
Arabica coffee grown from volcanic ash in the soil in Colombia has higher sugar content, compared to coffee grown in warmer tropical regions such as Vietnam, and thus has a sweeter flavor profile, making it higher quality.
Also, Colombia has not been as affected by the climate crisis compared to countries like Vietnam.
Colombia’s stable climate allows for long-term coffee production uninterrupted by torrential rains and storm surges.
#3: There Are Three Main Types of Arabica Coffee Plants Grown in Colombia
According to Sprudge, Typica, caturra, and Colombia are the three main types of Arabica coffee plants grown in Colombia.
Typica arabica coffee plants, which started to be grown in Colombia in the 1970s came from Yemen.
With its long stems and pointed shape, it produces smaller crops of coffee cherries that have bright and vivid colors. Typica accounts for about 25 percent of all the coffee plants that are grown in Colombia.
Caturra coffee which originated from Brazil, accounts for about 45 percent coffee plants in Colombia.
It is a shorter variety with higher yields. It first started to be grown in Colombia in 1952.
Colombia is another type of coffee plant that is considered to produce the highest quality coffee beans in Colombia. It also produces high yields. And it is resistant to devastating disease.
#4: Colombia is Home to About 300,000 Coffee Farms
Growing coffee is a long-held tradition among Colombian families.
Due to the fact that it is a very popular profession, there are approximately 300,000 small and mega coffee farms on Colombian land, according to Planetroasters.com.
The size of small farms is about 5 acres of land. Because of their size, small coffee farms don’t produce a reliable harvest year after year.
They sell their coffee to wholesalers who often mix the beans with beans produced from other farms.
On the other end of the spectrum, are mega farms, which are about 250,000 to 500,000 acres in size.
They have contractual agreements with retailers who rely on them to produce beans that have a particular standard in taste. If the standard is not met, then the order is not fulfilled.
While mega farms are held to a standard, because they are so large in size and produce coffee in the largest amounts, the quality suffers a bit as the care of individual plants might be overlooked.
#5: The Production of Coffee in Colombia Equals About 7 to 8 percent of the Country’s Gross Domestic Product
Accounting for about 7 to 8 percent of the country’s total GDP and about 15 percent of the total agricultural GDP (according to The World Bank), coffee production defines the soul of Colombia.
With the deep historical and political influences on the production of coffee, the country eats, sleeps, and breathes coffee.
Coffee production in Colombia had humble beginnings, with peasants producing most of the country’s coffee on small family farms at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Later on, the government’s influence including the establishment of the National Federation of Coffee Growers, which now has representatives with a lot of political influence, made coffee a national language.
Now I would like to talk about some facts about the country of Colombia itself and why it should be on your list of places to visit.
Facts About Colombia
#1 Colombia Is Often Voted as Among the Happiest Countries in the World
The Other Way Round, a travel website, cites the Barometer of Happiness and Hope Foundation’s list of the happiest countries in the world.
And guess what?
Colombia is almost always near the top. Perhaps it is the coffee that fuels the country’s happiness.
#2: Colombia is Second on the List of the World’s Most Biodiverse Countries
Second only to Brazil, Colombia is the most biodiverse country in the world, according to Colombia.co.
It has the highest density of species by area in the world, and has more species of bird than all North America and Europe.
The country is home to the Andes Mountains, the Amazon rain forest, and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Mountains, which each contribute to its biodiversity.
#3: Colombia is Home to 59 Protected National Parks
Starting with the creation of the first national park in the country in 1960, to the present day where there are now 59 nationally protected areas, the national park system in Colombia has grown quickly and is very vast.
This is according to Wherenext.com. Parks cover about 65,000 square miles of land. From the shoreline, to the mountains, to the deserts and forests, Colombia has something that will surely please every tourist.
Conclusion
Colombia, a top coffee producing country in the world, is home to a vibrant culture and exceptionally beautiful environment.
Sip some of the best coffee in the world, while relaxing on the beach and then maybe go for a hike in the wilderness and view the wildlife.
It is surely a country you will want to visit before you die.
Photos by Toni Cuenca and Nicola Barts
