Is Colombian Coffee Arabica or Robusta?

The Answer: Arabica – Colombia is actually the largest producer of Arabica coffee in the world.  This is part of the reason why Colombia is known internationally as a coffee production country, people simply love the flavor of the Arabica coffee bean.

View from the Terrasse at my apartment in the Coffee Zone

Currently, I am actually renting an apartment in the Zona Cafetera (coffee zone) in the city of Pereira, Colombia.  Every morning I make myself a strong cup of local Colombian coffee.  There are cafes everywhere here, coffee is clearly a huge part of the culture.

What is the Difference Between Arabica and Robusta?

The most important factor in determining the quality and taste of a cup of coffee is whether the beans are Arabica or Robusta.  Sure there are other factors that influence taste like the roasting process, the brewing process, and even the farming methods, but the species of coffee makes the biggest difference.

Arabica coffee is generally more prized and considered to be higher quality, however, some people actually prefer Robusta coffee.  Vietnam is the largest producer of Robusta coffee in the world and a lot of people love the flavor of Vietnamese coffee.

Another reason why some people prefer Robusta coffee beans is because of its higher caffeine content. Robusta coffee has nearly double the caffeine content of Arabica.  A small cup of Robusta coffee can have as much as 200 mg of caffeine, while the equivalent cup of Arabica will be closer to 120 mg.

Many businesses have marketed Robusta/Arabica blends.  This allows them to take advantage of the flavor of Arabica while keeping costs down by mixing in some Robusta.

My Favorite Colombian Coffees

Cafe Aguila Roja (red eagle coffee) is the main coffee I drink in Colombia.  The company is based out of the city of Cali, 170 kilometers south of where I am staying in Pereira.   Aguila Roja is not nearly as famous as Juan Valdez coffee, but it is a classic in Colombia itself.  Naturally, they use local 100% Arabica beans.

The Best Coffee Maker

If you have read my blog before you know that I have been traveling the world for the last four years, I move from apartment to apartment so I don’t have my own permanent place or even own a storage locker.  But, if I were to buy a coffee maker I would get the Cuisinart DCC-3200.  It is the best value coffee maker on the market.  Here are some reasons why:

• Brews up to 14 cups of coffee
• Adjustable carafe temperature.  A higher temperature for people who mix in cold milk/cream and a lower option for people who drink black coffee.
• 24-hour brew schedule, so you can set the coffee to brew automatically when you normally wake up.
• Regular/Bold settings depending on your taste preferences.
• Comes with a permanent filter which works fairly well.  You can also use paper filters if you prefer to have no sediment in your coffee.
• Special setting for 1-4 cup brews to maximize the quality of your coffee.

Why is Colombia so Famous for Coffee?

As mentioned earlier, Colombia is the largest producer of Arabica coffee beans in the world.  And since most people consider Arabica coffee to be higher quality than Robusta coffee Colombian coffee has become synonymous with quality.  Also, most Colombian coffee is grown on volcanic soil, which gives it that distinct acidic taste that many people love.

One really cool thing about Colombian coffee is that more than 80 percent of Colombians farms are smaller than 2 hectares, these are usually family-run businesses.  The Colombian Coffee Industry employs around 800 000 people and many of them are unskilled laborers who might have trouble finding jobs elsewhere.

Does Coffee Taste Different in Colombia?

After traveling all over the world, here is something I have noticed about most food products in general.  You can get really high-quality products of any kind almost anywhere in the world.  But, you can’t necessarily get that high-quality product for cheap.  Currently, I am buying an excellent coffee (Aguila Roja as mentioned earlier) for 2 USD per 500 grams (1.1lbs).  If I wanted the same quality in Canada I would need to pay a lot more!

The same goes for Portuguese wine, German beer, Ethiopian injera bread, Ugandan Matooke, and many other products.  You can find these products all over the world, but they will cost a lot more than in the country where they were produced.

The History of Coffee in Colombia

Coffee production began in the early 19th century, but mass exportation didn’t start until half a century later.  At first, huge landowners were producing most of the coffee in Colombia, but then the price of coffee plummetted internationally.  It was no longer profitable for the large landowners.  However, smaller-scale farms discovered that they could actually earn money.

Coffee production in Colombia began in the northeast of the country in the department of North of Santander.  Coffee production spread to other regions, particularly, Cauca, Antioquia, Cundinamarca, and Santander.

Who is Juan Valdez?

Juan Valdez is a fictional character who appeared in advertisements by the National Federation of Coffee Growers in Colombia since 1958.  He is a typical Colombian coffee farmer who represents 100% pure Colombian coffee.  In the original advertisements, he was played by the Cuban actor Jose Duval.

Before these advertisements many coffee companies were mixing Colombian coffee with coffee from other countries to save money, the National Federation of Coffee Growers in Colombia wanted to convince the world that Colombian coffee is the best.  It seems like they succeeded because even in the modern day Colombian coffee is synonymous with quality.

Juan Valdez Cafe was started by the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia in 2002 after seeing the success of other coffee shop franchises like Starbucks.  Now there are more than 300 cafes in 13 countries.  Juan Valdez follows the standard coffee shop model with lots of designer sugary/syrupy drinks.

What is life like in Colombia?

As an experienced world traveler, I can say that Colombia is one of my favorite countries in the whole world.  In fact, I am currently here for the second time and am staying in the country for 2.5 months.  I could easily see myself living here.  Colombian people are incredibly friendly, creative, and interesting.  Almost everyone you meet has some unique theories and perspectives on the world.

It’s also much more developed than you might expect.  I actually think it is debatable whether or not we should consider Colombia to be a developing country.  Sure lots of people struggle financially here, but a lot of people are very well-off also.  The main thing that might make you think that Colombia is still a developing country is the crime rate.

Unfortunately, I can’t mention life in Colombia without also mentioning crime.  Whether you are a foreigner or a local there is always a risk of getting mugged in every Colombia city.  Sure you can get mugged anywhere, but realistically Colombia is more dangerous than most countries I usually visit.  That being said, if you follow some basic safety precautions you should be fine.

For me, the danger is worth it, because Colombia is such an awesome country.  There are beaches, colonial cities, tropical rainforests, quaint small towns, a gregarious nightlife, and enormous mountains.

Here’s something else… Colombia is really cheap!  It’s one of the cheapest places I have ever visited and I have been to some pretty cheap countries. Currently, I am staying in an excellent apartment for 300 USD per month and I could pay a lot less if I agreed to stay for longer.   Colombia is one of those rare countries where you can get top-notch amenities at a cheap price, there are only a few other countries I know of that are like this (Thailand, the Philippines, Ecuador).

So if you are planning a trip and are thinking about going to Colombia put on your adult pants and do it!  Almost everyone who visits Colombia is fine, it is only a small percentage of people who even get mugged or pickpocketed.  Anyways, what’s the worse that could happen?  Normally the muggers don’t want to hurt you, they will probably just take your phone and wallet.  I have even heard of muggers letting people keep their memory card in Colombia.

Wherever you end up going I suggest taking a look at my Recommend Products.  There is important gear for people traveling to Colombia or anywhere.