Columbia produces some of the best coffee and is loved amongst coffee enthusiasts and connoisseurs. The magic that comes from the best Colombian coffee originates in the soil, climate and culture. The coffee plant arrived in Colombia in the early 1700s and has grown in popularity ever since.
Colombia produces around 11.5 million bags of coffee a year, the third-highest in the world after Brazil and Vietnam.
This site contains affiliate links.
Our Top Picks for Best Colombian Coffee
How is Colombian Coffee Different?
A common misconception is that Colombian coffee is stronger than other coffees, this is not the case. It is usually milder than coffees made from Robusta beans so will typically be a bit weaker than a cup that was made with Robusta coffee. The brewing and roasting process will greatly affect the strength of the coffee, of course, strength does not rely just on the beans themselves.
Coffees produced from Colombian beans are gentler and classed as having a strong aroma, medium to high body and high acidity. It is usually less bitter than other coffees from around the world.
Why Colombian Coffee is the Best
Great quality coffee is produced when the stars align to create the perfect growing conditions for the coffee plant to thrive and deliver beautifully-tasting coffee, and Colombia has just that.
Great Geography, Climate and Harvesting
The coffee plant produces the best coffee when grown in volcanic soil, at high altitudes, with lots of rain, mild temperatures and frost-free winters. Some of the best coffee is grown on steep slopes, ideally surrounded by trees and banana plants that provide essential afternoon shade ensuring the sun doesn’t scorch the precious produce.
Colombia’s volcanic soil, mountain terrain, high rainfall and tropical location make it the perfect place to grow some of the worlds best coffee.
Once ready, beans are then picked by hand, which ensures only ripe coffee cherries are picked, leaving the others to ripen a little more. You may remember from our post on best Kona coffee, the folks in Hawaii’s renowned Kona district also harvest their coffee by hand.
The Type of Bean
When it comes to coffee quality the type of bean is also super important. You generally get two types of bean, Arabica and Robusta. Arabica is widely considered a superior quality bean due to its milder, sweeter taste and lower caffeine content.
Colombia produces 100% Arabica beans with zero Robusta to be found in their plantations.
Different Coffee Regions within Colombia
The most well-known coffee region in Colombia is the central part of the country, also known as the coffee belt or coffee triangle. It includes Caldas, Quindio and Risaralda. The coffee triangle boasts some of the most beautiful scenery in the country and is definitely a place to visit if you would like to go on a coffee adventure.
Then further South there are higher altitude areas that allow the beans to ripen more slowly due to the higher temperatures. This area delivers a lower yield, but the beans are very popular.
How is Colombian Coffee Graded?
Colombian coffee is graded into three categories, based on the quality of the beans.
- The highest grade is called Supremo and features the best coffee Colombia has to offer
- The second category is Extra
- The lowest grade is Excelso, an inferior mix of the first two coffee categories
If you’re looking to buy the best coffee Colombia has to offer then look out for 100% Colombian coffee rather than blends from around various regions.
Our Picks for the Best Colombian Coffee
1. Don Pablo Colombian Supremo
- Roast Level: Medium-Dark
- Speciality: GMO-Free
- Tasting notes: Mild, sweet, and rich with a smooth cocoa toned finish
Don Pablo was started by Darron and Eliana after they got married in the late 1800s. The company has direct relationships with the growers they buy from and they manage the production of over 1,000,000 coffee trees throughout South America via their Sharing Certified Program. Their roasting facility is Certified for Organic production.
The beans are slow-roasted in small batches in the US to ensure the best quality and freshness. You can make this coffee strong or as mild as you choose by adjusting the coffee to water ratio, Don Pablo will always stay rich, smooth and wonderful. This produces a well-balanced cup of coffee as it’s strong, not too acidic or bitter.
To know that our customers love our coffees as much as we do and have made them a part of their daily lives gives us an enormous sense of satisfaction and drives what we do every day.
2. Koffee Kult Colombia Coffee Beans
- Roast Level: Medium
- Speciality: Organically sourced
- Tasting notes: Chocolatey aroma, bold body, medium acidity, clean sugary finish
Koffee Kult is a family-owned roaster with one of the largest family-operated roasting facilities in South Florida. Their coffees are artisan roasted within the USA. This particular coffee comes from Hula’s high mountains where they source their beans organically.
From this bag, you’ll get fresh and clean tasting coffee with a bold and smooth flavour. No bitterness with medium acidity. If you’re looking for a strong brew without a burnt after taste this coffee is definitely for you. It’s a coffee you’ll love bag after bag, just be mindful that these are roasted in small batches so will not be available all the time.
Artisan roasted fresh to perfection preserving the natural chocolate and sweet flavours of the coffee. on our small batch roasters, and roasted immediately prior to packaging. Every bag is consistently the same!
3. Volcanica Colombia Supremo Coffee
- Roast Level: Medium
- Speciality: Fairtrade, organic
- Tasting notes: Bittersweet chocolate, caramel, orange
Volcanica is speciality coffee from the world’s finest volcanic regions. Founded in 2004 they offer organically grown, rainforest alliance and certified fairtrade coffees. Colombia is known for its mountains and volcanos, providing the perfect growing conditions for a great cup of coffee.
The Colombian Supremo is organically grown in the shade and delivers the perfect balance between medium-sweet acidity and incredible aroma. You can pick up the nutty undertones and rich medium-full body. It’s a nice and smooth cup of coffee.
100% Pure Colombian Supremo Coffee is the perfect balance between medium-sweet acidity and smooth-light body thanks to being organically and shade-grown.
4. Don Francisco’s Whole Bean Colombia Supremo
- Roast Level: Medium
- Speciality: Sustainably sourced
- Tasting notes: Sweet and floral with winey notes
Don Francisco worked for the Federal Reserve Bank before returning home to Cuba to look after his father who fell ill. There he obtained a license to roast coffee that they have grown on the family farm. He later relocated to Los Angeles where he started roasting coffee and selling them in paper bags to the Cuban community. From there he developed the well-known blends that have become household favourites.
This coffee is full of body, bold and super smooth. You won’t find an acidic after taste or bitterness in this bag. It’s less smokey than their Kona blend and beautifully balanced. This coffee is blended, roasted and packed in the USA.
OUR DIRECT IMPACT INITIATIVE influences every business decision we make so that we can preserve natural resources and our environment for future generations of our family and yours
5. Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC, Medium Roast Bundle: Colombian Supremo
- Roast Level: Medium
- Speciality: Certified Kosher
- Tasting notes: Notes of Honey and Cherry
Fresh Roasted Coffee is a US-based roaster that offers this single-origin coffee. They pride themselves in choosing fresh and high-quality beans while working to operate in an ecological way.
This pack is a combo pack, consisting of their Artisan blend and the Colombian Supremo. Both of these coffees are medium roasted. This is a rich coffee with honey-like notes and a balanced body that is bold in flavour with a bright finish.
Colombian Supremo: FRESH ROASTED COLOMBIAN SUPREMO COFFEE Is Well Balanced with Tasting Notes of Honey and Cherry. It’s a Definite Crowd Pleaser.
6. Member’s Mark Colombian Supremo Whole Bean Coffee
- Roast Level: Medium-Dark
- Speciality: Fairtrade
- Tasting notes: Sweet Chocolate And Hazelnut Notes
Member’s Mark is sourced from small coffee farmers in the mountains of Colombia. They manage quality closely during all steps of the process from collection, roasting and packaging. Their beans are handpicked, washed and sun-dried to produce a great quality coffee with sweet and chocolatey notes.
It’s a nice and stout coffee that is well balanced without the pretentious bitterness. Use a medium grind in a drip pot or brew a coarse grind in your French press for the best tasting coffee you’ll make out of this bag.
Go supremo on your next cup with this dark side of medium Colombian roast. It has chocolate and hazelnut notes and is Fair Trade certified
7. Juan Valdez Colina Coffee
- Roast Level: Medium
- Tasting notes: A balanced coffee with a mild texture, silky body and notes of roasted nuts
Colina is made from small and round-shaped beans that result in the formation of a single seed instead of two within the coffee cherry. These beans are called Caracolilllo in Spanish. In some regions, these unique beans are known as Peaberry beans. Typically only around 5% of all coffee beans are Caracolillio or Peaberry.
This coffee has a strong toasted, yet smooth taste. It’s a full-bodied, yet balanced coffee with an intense fragrance and medium acidity.
100% Arabica, 100% Colombian coffee
8. Cafe Quindio Traditional Dark Roast Ground Coffee
- Roast Level: Dark
- Speciality: Organic
- Tasting notes: Strong with herbal notes
Cafe Quindio is a Traditional Dark Roast Coffee from the heart of Colombia. Their beans are 100% handpicked roasted and packed in Colombia. From planting right through to harvest, Quindio’s growers take extra care of every detail. Located between 1,400 and 1,800 metres above sea level they produce a cup that is balanced and intense.
With this bag, Quindio delivers a strong and great-tasting coffee with light herbal notes, and no bitterness or acidity to speak of.
100% Arabica coffee direct from the heart of Colombia to the door of your house.
9. Grumpy Mule Organic Colombia Ground
- Roast Level: Dark
- Speciality: Fairtrade, Organic
- Tasting notes: Hazelnut, caramel with a hint of red fruits
Grumpy Mule was founded in 2006 with a mission to fight against bad coffee and unethical sourcing. The name comes from the unsung heroes of the coffee trade, mules that are often seen as stubborn, stupid and grumpy.
But those in the know understand the important role that the mule plays in the business of coffee. Their coffee is roasted in the West Yorkshire Pennines in the UK. A slightly unusual place for coffee roasting as Yorkshire is well known for its tea.
This coffee is nice and strong without being overpowering or bitter. It strikes just the right balance between strength, brightness and fullness.
10. Peet’s Coffee Single Origin Colombia
- Roast Level: Dark
- Speciality: Certified Kosher
- Tasting notes: Bright and sweet, with notes of stone fruit
Peet’s is a well-known coffee brand that delivers consistent quality. They select flavourful and full-bodied coffee from the heights of the remote southern province of Huila, a region that is still growing traditional beans along with a few newer varieties.
The company has longstanding relationships with the farmers they buy from which allows them to access some of the world’s best coffee. All the beans are roasted by hand and fine-tuned to perfection. With this bag, you’ll make a sweet and slightly fruity cup of coffee that is bright and delightful.
Single Origin Colombia: With a preference for the high southern region of San Agustìn, Huila, we select only exceptional beans to produce the most flavorful Colombian cup.
11. Laughing Man Columbia Huila
- Roast Level: Dark
- Speciality: Organic
- Tasting notes: Black cherry, dark chocolate, smokey and sweet
Laughing Man was set up by actor Hugh Jackman with the aim to give back to coffee growing communities. A nicely dark roasted coffee with a complexity that is produced from beans of good character. But this coffee is no laughing matter, it’s more of an aaaah type of coffee moment. The Columbia Huila is an intensely deep roasted coffee with flavours of black cherry and dark chocolate.
You’ll find a rich and mild taste with a slightly sweet undertone, so it’s not necessary to add sugar. Hats off, Hugh, you’ve managed to serve a good tasting coffee here, served with a side of giving back!
FAQs
Is Colombian Coffee better than arabica?
Arabica is a type of coffee bean along with Robusta. Generally, Arabica is seen as a superior bean and the only coffee bean that is produced in Colombia. So rest assured that Colombian coffee should always be made with 100% Arabica beans.
Is Colombian Coffee Arabica?
Yes, it is. Colombia only produces Arabica beans which means Colombian coffee should be made up of 1400% Arabica beans.
Last update on 2022-07-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API