Day 13: Colombia, Sierra Nevada De Santa Marta
Day 13 of the RISE Coffee Countdown Calendar - Colombia, Sierra Nevada De Santa Marta
Origin: Colombia
Location: Sierra Nevada De Santa Marta
Altitude: 1,800+ masl
Bean: Arabica
Varietals: Mixed
Process: Washed
Certifications: Fair Trade
Tasting notes: Plum, sweet nut and chocolate
Why Alice and Ben love it: This medium bodied, slightly heavier coffee has a strong aroma and chocolate backbone with a delightful plummy aftertaste. In general, we love Colombia coffees and this one doesn't disappoint!
About the coffee:
Coffee from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a mountainous region in northern Colombia, is renowned for its unique and high-quality beans. This coastal mountain range offers exceptional growing conditions, including high solar radiation, a distinct dry season, and the natural shade of native trees. These factors, combined with organic farming methods, result in coffee that’s both environmentally sustainable and rich in flavour.
With just one harvest per year, from October to January, the beans develop a medium to high body, medium acidity, and delightful tasting notes of chocolate, complemented by a sweet, nut-like aroma.
The region’s coffee history dates back to 1741 and was further boosted in the late 19th century by foreign investments that established iconic farms like La Victoria. Today, over 4,000 coffee-growing families, including Indigenous communities such as the Arhuacos and Koguis, contribute to the cultivation of bean varieties like Castillo, Typica, and Caturra. These coffees are exported worldwide, celebrated for their quality, and often certified as organic or Fair Trade.
