Visit a coffee plantation.
Finca Café San Alberto.
Colombia produces some of the finest coffee in the world and is the third-largest global producer behind Brazil and Vietnam.
Café San Alberto, is arguably the coffee plantation with the most beautiful view, overlooking the central plain of the Quindio department, with the Western Colombian Andes visible in the distance. Located in the municipality of Buenavista at the top of a mountain, which allows a 180-degree view of the region.
The premium coffee is the most decorated in Colombia, having won a variety of taste and quality awards. It’s all grown on the slopes around the cafe, which serves delicious speciality coffee on a small terrace overlooking that spectacular views, and they offer a coffee tour and tasting experience as well. The most beautiful spot in Colombia to enjoy a cup of quality coffee!
Colombian coffee culture.
In the shops, you probably see different types of Coffee labelled by country. However, in Colombia, this isn’t the case. This country’s diverse landscape enables each of its regions to create a unique coffee bean flavour. As a result, coffee is labelled by region or even sub-region. Try coffee from Huila Colombia or Cauca and see if you can taste the difference!
Arabica Beans
Most coffee from Colombia is made from arabica beans. Arabica and robusta are the two main types of coffee beans. Arabica beans have a sweeter and lighter flavour compared to robusta ones.
Tinto Coffee
Although Colombia prides itself on creating some of the highest quality coffee beans, most Colombians never get to taste them. The best coffee from Colombia is saved for exportation while the lower quality coffee is left for domestic consumption. This lower-quality coffee is known as Tinto, or “inky water”. It’s the most popular type of coffee in Colombia since it’s widely available at a cheap price. It’s sort of like ordering a plain black cup of coffee in Norway.
(In the picture above, you see Carlos Sánchez, who embodied Colombian Coffee as Juan Valdez — the most famous folk figure for the coffee industry)
The lifestyle around Colombian coffee.
A social drink
Many people can’t start their day without a steaming cup of coffee to wake them up. They rely on expresso’s high caffeine to get them through the work day. In Colombia, however, coffee isn’t a vehicle for caffeine. Instead, it’s a social drink. People gather around and share coffee time together while creating lasting memories.
Colombians drink Coffee at night
Coffee shops in Europe and in the US, open bright and early so that morning coffee drinkers can get their caffeine for the day. Colombian shops, on the other hand, don’t experience this same morning rush. Instead, their popular times are 3 pm and 7 pm.