Description
From one of the most famous growing regions of Colombia, Huila Coffee is grown in the rich soils in the central range of mountains (Cordillera Central) that also bear the 6th highest mountain in Colombia, Nevado del Huila, a 17,568 recently active volcano in the Cordillera Central Range.
Huila coffee grows at 1500 to 1900 meters above sea level, in rich volcanic soils and perfect coffee microclimate, with plenty of late morning fog which burns off to wash the beans with just the right amount of midday sun. The beans grow slowly and develop rich, bright, intense and balanced flavors. If you carefully observe the green beans, you’ll see a certain high grown gnarliness to them, many of the centerlines are tight and a little crooked. In a light roast, you’ll see “character lines” on the outside of the beans, these beans grew slowly, densely and richly (think of oak vs balsa wood and the difference in density between those), developing richly balanced flavors you can’t just get anywhere.
Tasting Notes:
A good everyday drinker – this Huila coffee is very smooth, lower acidity with a sweeter than average edge. Medium bodied cup with good mouthfeel, on the nutty/chocolaty side with a hint of fruitiness as the cup cools. Works from light to dark but we liked a strong medium roast the best; rich cup with an emphasis on the smooth nutty/chocolate tones. Lighter roasting accentuates a little lemony crispness and more noticeable fruitiness. Darker roasts are a little stronger and less neutral (smooth), more smoky and roasty but still sweet.
Roasting Notes:
A nice and easy coffee to roast with a wide range of tasty roast levels. Medium to low chaff and pretty even roasting being a large bean screen. A couple day setup really helps the more creamy cup characteristics.
In Colombia the vast majority of coffee is cultivated, harvested and processed on small family owned farms. While these producers are their own architects, designing farm management and post-harvest solutions to fit their needs, they also need strong alliances to bring their coffee to the international market and earn fair prices. To support this system of small farm production, Colombia established the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (FNC) to organize and support a complex network of larger regional coffee cooperatives.
These cooperatives provide producers with valuable logistical support like centralized warehouses to store dried parchment and dry mills where the coffee is prepared for export. The Supremo grade, the highest rating of any Colombian bean, is the largest beans with a 17/18 designation for beans that will not pass through a screen opening below 17/64 of an inch. Supremo lots are often traceable to regions of Colombia, each with distinct harvest times, which provides for a constant supply of fresh Colombian Supremo throughout the calendar year.
Check out more information on Colombian Green Coffee Beans here!
Trinity Homewood (verified owner) –
This coffee punches way above it’s weight. Classic Columbian coffee flavor. Good as a brew, mocha pot, or espresso. Phenomenal bargain.