One of the most particular things I've experienced since I cam here is the feeling of property I've gain relating to the colombian products outside. Is not that all the colombian products are characterized by their quality or flavor, but some of them are particularly good comparing to the things you can taste outside.
This is the case of the colombian coffee, which is not just a phrase to identify a coffee with good flavor. Much more than that, the coffee by itself has a mystic in its growth, its recollection and toast. On the first one, the lands where coffee is planted conserve a mild climate with temperatures ranging 15 and 20 grades, naturally enriched with natural fertilizers and protected from the sun using natural shields like the "plátano¨ (baking banana) trees in which the ecosystem is carefully protected by their inhabitants.
The second, and crucial aspect for which colombian coffee has the reputation above other nations is the care the coffee producers have to select the grains. Every single grain is collected by hands, with the patience of hundreds of farmers that only select grains that are sufficiently good for the next process, with acceptation rates below 40% or less depending on the farm. This selection process, initially criticized by small farmers is now producing very good refunds, guaranteeing a flavor recognized by coffee lovers (nationals and foreigners) all over the world.
Finally, the social role of the coffee in colombia shapes a culture in which different generations are tied together in the different phases not explained here (e.g.: Clean, Dry and Toast among others), creating environments in which "fair trade" is the default policy the respect for the nature and the society are the most important values.
Now I hope I have clarified my preferences when people ask me why i'm willing to expend more for a cup of colombian coffee. Of course that I can take other ones (eg. the costarican that tries to imite us unfruitfully, or the widespread brazilian coffee), but there are some things that you cannot forget....
2 comments:
well, the problem is that you have brazilian and brazilian coffes... like you must have colombians and colombians... in Brazil you cannot buy the best brazilian coffe, it is all exported. Just the 2nd and further qualities stay for the internal market. Does it happens also in Colombia? or you can have the best Colombian coffe also at home?
Yes, that's also true for our country. Only "non-premium" grains remains on the local market, because normally the good coffee reach a high price (US$17.00/Pound on March 07). There are some places where you can find good quality coffe, like the Juan Valdez and Oma coffee shops, but their target is the colombian elite.
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