Colombia Andino

The department of Huila’s unique agroclimatic conditions make it a big player in the production of coffee in Colombia, being bordered on the east and west by mountain ranges and traversed by the mighty Magdalena River. The corregimiento of Bruselas, which is part of the municipality of Pitalito, sits in southern Huila bordered on both sides by national parks.

Bruselas itself boasts some incredible climatic conditions as it is close to the Macizo Colombiano where the Andes diverts into the three mountain ranges or cordilleras of Colombia, as well as being the birthplace of the five main rivers of Colombia including the Magdalena and Cauca Rivers.

Bruselas has gained a reputation for producing outstanding coffee, and the crop has become the main economic driver in the area. Bruselas is the corregimiento (a microregion or subdivision of a municipality) that produces the most coffee in the Andes Region, hence the name ‘Andino’ for this particular offering.

Bruselas is a place of hard-working coffee growers, with knowledge and expertise passing down through generations along with the farms. The steep and rugged mountains, plus the climate and people make this an outstanding coffee from the heart of the Colombian Andes.

Colombia’s reputation as a specialty coffee-producing powerhouse is well known and well deserved. Overall the world’s third largest coffee exporting country, Colombia tops the charts when it comes to arabica, with over 11 million bags produced every year.

First cultivated in the country in the 18th century, coffee production began in earnest in 1808 and has played an important part in the country’s economy ever since. Most coffee in Colombia is grown by small farmers—60 percent of producers cultivate less than one hectare of coffee, while less than one percent have more than 20 hectares.

Colombia's mountainous terrain and diverse microclimates makes it an ideal place for coffee to thrive, and also allows for distinct variations in taste profile depending on the region, farm, and sometimes even plots of specific farms.

More than half a million families grow coffee in the country, most on farms of two hectares or less. The Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (FNC), created in 1927, oversees the industry on a national level, with cooperatives and smaller farmer's unions operating regionally.

The FNC was created to defend the interests of its owners, the small-scale farmers who produce the bulk of the country's coffee, as well as to promote the production and exportation of Colombian coffee more generally.

Castillo, named for the researcher Jamie Castillo who helped develop the variety in 2005, is resistant to leaf rust and has quickly become the most planted coffee in Colombia. Coffee leaf rust (la roya in Spanish) has impacted coffee growing in Colombia, among many other countries, and remains a looming threat as the planet heats.

Did you know?

• The FNC is well known for its classic Juan Valdez marketing campaign, wherein an actor portraying a coffee farmer (alongside his mule, Conchita) extols the virtues of Colombian coffee. It has spawned many offshoots and parodies, as well as an international chain of cafes.
• The Coffee Triangle, comprising four departments including the northern part of Tolima, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.
• Parque del Café (Coffee Park) is a theme park devoted to coffee located in the department of Quindío. Owned by the FNC, it features a museum and exhibitions as well as an amusement park and animatronic show.

Our speciality coffees are 100% traceable and ethically sourced. We work direct with farmers, or through trusted partners, to bring you the best coffee from around the world.

Sourced in partnership with: Caravela
Producer relationship length: 1 year