Author: GreenLeaf

Did you know that one of the world-leading coffee producing nations is made entirely of small and independent farmers? That nation is Colombia. Located in the northwest part of South America, Colombia’s coffee economy is a fascinating study. Here are three awesome reasons we love Colombian coffee and why you should too.

1). Colombia is the #1 producer of Arabica coffee beans

Gourmet coffees are typically made from the arabica coffee bean, which allows for a wide variety of flavors depending on soil, climate, cultivation and other factors. It’s the most popular coffee in the world—about 60% of the cups of coffee in the world are made from arabica beans.

The variety of elevations in the Colombian coffee growing region means that each farmer produces their own distinct flavor. This makes Colombian coffee perfect for coffee lovers with discerning tastes. Once you find a flavor that you love, you’ll keep coming back to support that small farmer! (Luckily, we offer a wide variety of those flavors in our shop. Click here to browse.)

2). Two NGOs Support Colombian Coffee Farmers

How is a nation made up of small and independent coffee farmers able to become a world leader in coffee growing? For two very good reasons: Colombia has two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that support their coffee farmers.

Federacion Nacional de Cafeteros (FNC) (National Federation of Coffee Growers in English) assists small farmers with logistical and commercial workflows that are difficult to implement independently. A lot of coffee in Colombia is harvested by hand and transported by mule, and the infrastructure at FNC keeps those sacred traditions while providing a foothold in the modern global market.

Cenicafe is a research organization that helps small farmers with grain quality, production, processing, harvesting, conservation efforts and much more. Just like with logistics, it’s great for small farmers to have a large resource working to always improve the quality of their coffee crop.

With these two organizations at their side, small coffee farmers in Colombia can keep their status as a global leader in coffee.

3). Colombia is the third-leading coffee growing nation in the world

For an economy made up almost entirely by small and independent farmers, this is a huge feat! Lots of thanks goes to the efforts of the farmers, the aforementioned organizations that support them, and you, the customer, for enjoying the coffee these farmers grow.

Want to support a Colombian coffee farmer? We are offering a 15% off sale on all Colombian coffee beans until February 18. Click here to shop now!

Are you considering taking up roasting as a hobby or know someone who is? Roasting your own green coffee beans ensures that you’re getting a fresh cup of coffee just the way you like it. And it’s easier than you might think! It all starts with just three things – beans, heat and something to roast on/in.

1. Beans – Green coffee beans come from all over the world and we are pleased to offer a wide variety. At Burman Coffee Traders we work hard to offer the best quality coffee beans and we hand pick all our providers. Don’t be afraid to stock up on unroasted coffee beans at home. Not only will you get a competitive price, but green coffee will also stay fresh for up to a year. Shop our coffee bean selection.
2. Heat – You can’t roast coffee without heat. And lots of it. The ideal internal temperature for roasted beans is 390-460°F. Most home coffee roasters will choose a heat source that goes above 450°F. The exact temperature and timing depends on how much coffee you’re roasting and what roasting method you’ve selected.
3. Roaster – Roasting green coffee beans at home can be done using a variety of tools. From a pan to a popcorn popper, the key to home roasting is monitoring temperature and stirring. You can also invest in an all-in-one home coffee roaster to simplify the process.

If you’re looking to invest in a roaster, there are two main varieties – fluid bed and drum roaster. A fluid bed roaster works much like a popcorn popper in that you can watch the coffee as it’s roasting through a glass chamber. The FreshRoast SR540 is our pick for an entry level fluid roaster.

A drum roaster has a rotating drum that tumbles the beans as they’re roasting. A drum roaster allows for more beans to be roasted at one time and produces a more evenly roasted final product. The Gene Café and the Behmor 2000 AB are our top picks for drum roasters.

Additional Resources

There are endless resources available to help you get started with home coffee roasting. Our Learning Center includes more information on where our unroasted coffee beans come from, roast styles, processing methods, and more.