In a rush? Our top choice is the Volcanica Colombian Supremo!
Colombia is one of the biggest coffee-producing countries in the world.
But choosing Colombian coffee beans can be tricky.
In this article, I’ll break down the best Colombian coffee.
I’ll give you a rundown of my favorites and then offer a few tips and tricks for picking out a good one for you.
Let’s get to it!
Best Colombian Coffee: Top 7 Picks
- Volcanica Colombian Supremo (Best Overall)
- Colombian Peaberry (Best for interesting flavors)
- Volcanica Colombian Supremo Decaf (Best Decaf)
- Colombian Geisha (Best for a special occasion)
- Lavazza Tierra Colombia (Best Colombian Blend)
- Koffee Kult Colombian Huila (Best Small-batch Roasted)
- Java Planet Colombian Organic (Best for a Budget)
Volcanica Colombian Supremo
Sometimes great coffee comes in the middle of the road, medium roast bags.
Kind of like this Colombian Supremo Volcanica coffee.
This is a medium roast coffee bean, which means you’ll still get some unique Colombian flavors while also finding a medium body and mellow acidity.
It has bittersweet, chocolate, caramel, and a hint of orange. I find that a hint of orange is pretty characteristic of Colombian coffees, and this one is no different.
This is a washed process coffee. That basically means that the coffee was soaked in water to get all the fruit off the actual coffee bean.
Is it better than other processes? That’s up to personal taste. But I will say that generally washed coffees are mellower, shallower bodied, but do have really crisp and clear flavors.
This is a certified FairTrade and Kosher coffee.
Because it’s a medium roast with clear flavors, you would need to brew it pretty strong for it to pair well with cream or sugar.
I’d recommend drinking this coffee black.
Pros
- The medium roast has unique flavors and a mellow body, making a good middle ground
- It has notes of chocolate, caramel, and orange, which are classic Colombian coffee flavors
- It’s a washed process coffee, giving it a clear and crisp flavor profile
- It’s a FairTrade and Kosher-certified coffee, so you can be sure the farming and roasting are held to a high standard
Cons
- It won’t go great with cream and sugar unless you brew pretty strong
Colombian Peaberry
Peaberry coffee is always a treat.
Despite what the name sounds like, peaberry coffee beans are actually slightly bigger than normal coffee beans.
Peaberry coffee is a mutation in the coffee cherry where only one bean develops instead of the regular two.
This happens in about 5% of the crop each year.
What makes it special? Well, peaberry beans can have a fuller and more developed aroma when compared to regular coffee beans.
And this coffee is no different.
It’s still a medium roast, and Kosher certified. And it has notes of florals, fruits, and hints of cocoa and cinnamon.
But if you ask me, it tastes like great Colombian coffee. The floral notes dominate the cup, with mellow citrus fruits supporting the roundness and fullness of the peaberry beans.
That said, peaberry coffees are usually more expensive. And if you don’t have a developed palate and have a reliable and consistent brewing method, then peaberry isn’t worth the extra money.
But it’s still a delicious coffee. The washed process brings out good flavors and makes it a quality coffee.
Pros
- Peaberry coffees are unique because of the mutation and the scarcity, so it’s a treat to have a peaberry
- It’s Kosher certified, so the farming and roasting processes are clean
- Floral notes with citrus fruit aroma make this a rounded coffee
- The medium roast gives it a mellow and crisp flavor that’s easy to brew
Cons
- Peaberry coffees are expensive if you aren’t brewing precisely and have a good palate
Volcanica Colombian Supremo Decaf
Ah, decaf coffee.
It’s polarizing. If you like it, you really like it. And if you don’t drink it, well, then you barely ever think of it.
But sometimes a decaf coffee comes around that just flat out tastes good.
This is one such decaf coffee.
What makes it so good? The decaffeination process. There are two processes for decaffeination: with chemicals, or with water.
Most decaf coffees use chemicals and leave a sterile, washing-liquid taste. But it’s cheaper and quicker.
Water-processed decaf coffees retain a lot more of their natural aroma and stay true to the country of origin.
The Supremo Decaf uses a water process, and it retains a lot of good flavors like florals and light sugar.
It has a pleasant acidity with nutty backgrounds and a smooth finish.
That said, it’s still a decaf, so you’ll lose a little of the rounded Colombian flavor in your cup. But it is a really amazing decaf coffee.
Plus, it’s Kosher certified.
Pros
- The Swiss Water decaf process means this coffee retains a lot of good Colombian flavors
- It has a pleasant acidity and smooth finish without tasting chemically
- It’s Kosher certified, so you can be sure it hasn’t been processed with chemicals
Cons
- It’s a lighter-bodied coffee, so it doesn’t pair too well with cream or sugar
- It’s still a decaf coffee, so you’ll lose some classic Colombian aroma
Colombian Geisha
If you’ve heard of geisha coffees before, chances are you know how expensive they can be.
But chances are also pretty good that if you’ve tasted geisha coffees, you might understand why they’re so expensive.
What is geisha coffee? It’s a type of coffee bean that comes from a plant native to Gesha, Ethiopia. But those plants are all over the world now.
And some of the best geisha beans come from Colombia.
This Volcanica Geisha is a great one. It comes from a micro-lot in the Huila Milagros region and is a light roast coffee.
It has some classic geisha flavors like Apple Jacks (yes, like the cereal) and tropical fruits.
Because geisha coffees are so special and have such unique flavors, most coffee professionals will tell you it’s a crime to mix in cream and sugar.
Now, you’re probably asking yourself if this coffee is worth it for how expensive it is.
My honest answer? Probably not. Unless you have your coffee setup dialed with scales, kettles, different brewers, maybe a water filter, etc.
If you don’t have a high-quality coffee brewing setup, you’re better off paying up for a cup of geisha at your local specialty coffee shop instead.
Pros
- A phenomenal aroma that explodes in your mouth
- Can taste like you’re drinking cereal, which gives it a rounded and complete profile
- Micro-lot farms, which means it comes from small producers
Cons
- Wildly expensive, which makes it not worth it unless you really know what you’re doing
Lavazza Tierra Colombia
Lavazza knows coffee. They’ve been in the coffee game a long time. And this Colombian blend is another great addition to their line.
It’s a medium roast Arabica coffee blend that combines Colombian beans from two different regions.
The result is a tasty coffee with a fruity aroma and a fuller body.
It has notes of nuts and dark cocoa, with the acidity of tropical fruit and lime.
Because of the balance of this coffee, it’s a wonderful morning brew that I think pairs nicely with cream and sugar.
The downside is that it’s a blend of Colombian coffees. That by itself isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But when we talk about origin countries, we usually mean the specific characteristics of a single country.
When we blend regions within a country, we lose some of the specific farm’s characteristics and are left with a more generic tasting coffee.
That said, if you’re looking for a true Colombian coffee that’s a great morning drinker with cream and sugar, this is the coffee for you.
Pros
- Arabica coffee beans blend means you get a clean and delicious cup
- Notes of nuts, dark cocoa, and tropical fruit make this a rounded and balanced cup of coffee
- The balance of this coffee means it pairs really well with cream and sugar
Cons
- It’s a blend of Colombian coffees, meaning you lose some of the flavors unique to specific farms
Koffee Kult Colombia Huila
This Koffee Kult coffee comes from the Huila region. It’s a famous region in Colombia known for producing high-quality coffee beans.
This coffee is no different.
It’s a small batch of roasted coffee using profiles instead of presets. Basically, that means each batch of green coffee beans is tested and the roast adjusted to bring out the right flavors.
It’s a medium roast coffee, so that means it will have a heavier body with a smooth and bright finish.
It has notes of cinnamon and orange. Plus, it’s a fully washed coffee. That gives each cup a crisp and full profile.
If you’re looking for a versatile coffee that’s both a morning drink and can also make good espresso, this coffee is for you.
The fact that this coffee is a small batch means that it comes from family-owned farms. And while this coffee might not be FairTrade certified, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good conscious buy.
The only downside is that because Koffee Kult is a larger roaster, you don’t get the info on which farm the coffee is from. This means that from bag to bag, there might be a little difference in flavor.
Pros
- Small batch roasted, so each batch is tested before being packaged
- Notes of cinnamon and orange, which makes it a classic Colombian flavor profile
- Fully washed process, which gives each cup a crisp and full flavor
- It’s really versatile and tastes good as a morning brew or even espresso
Cons
- Taste can change from bag to bag because of the size of the roaster
Java Planet Colombian Organic
This Java Planet Colombian is a fine coffee. But it’s nothing special.
It’s certified Organic and Rainforest Alliance.
And yes, it does have the classic Colombian body and fruit notes. And it has low acidity.
But it’s roasted with a one-size-fits-all profile. Java Planet doesn’t take the time to craft a roasting profile for each batch of new beans.
While that isn’t ideal for specific flavor profiles, it does mean it’s a great sipping coffee. It pairs well with cream and sugar and even tastes good when brewed in a pot instead of a cup by cup.
I wouldn’t recommend this coffee to someone who is looking for a great example of Colombian coffee. But I would recommend this to someone looking for a Colombian coffee to put in their morning pot.
Pros
- USDA Organic, Rainforest Alliance, Bird Friendly coffee, so they take care that this coffee is sustainable
- Low acidity, which is great for someone looking for a stomach-friendly coffee
- Still has overall Colombian characteristics of full body and fruit flavors
- Pair really well with cream and sugar, which makes it a good morning sipper
Cons
- Big batch roasted, so you lose a lot of the specific flavors unique to each batch of beans
Colombian Coffee Buying Guide
I know that buying single-origin coffees can be really intimidating, especially once you start getting into the weeds.
The processing, drying, and bean varieties all change how the coffee tastes in your cup.
In this section, I’d like to give you an overview of what to look for when looking at single-origin coffees from Colombia.
What origin should you look for?
Obviously, you’re buying Colombian coffee. But aren’t there specific regions in Colombia that are growing coffee?
Yes, there are. However, chances are you don’t have the palate to tell the difference between coffees from regions within a single country. (Unless you’re a green coffee buyer or high-end roaster, that is.)
That said, sometimes it can be a fun change to try a coffee from a different region just to see if you can tell the difference.
I always tell people that altitude makes a bigger difference than the region in a country. Basically, the higher the altitude, the tastier the coffee.
A fun way to start developing your palate is to try different regions of the world. So, if you start with Colombian coffee, maybe next time try Ethiopian or Kenyan coffee.
What type of roast should you get?
The roast plays a huge role in the flavors that make it into your cup.
There seem to be as many different roasts out there as there are actual coffees. And that makes things really confusing.
When dealing with single-origin specialty coffees, it’s better to look for a lighter roast instead of the dark roast.
Why are light roasts better? Because they retain more of the unique flavors specific to that country.
Short answer: dark roast tastes more like coffee, while light roast tastes more like the notes on the bag.
Should you get whole bean or ground coffee?
If you’re serious about brewing good Colombia coffee, then the first thing you should buy is a good entry-level grinder.
Why? Because fresh ground coffee is always, always better than pre-ground.
Whole bean coffee retains more flavor and ages much slower than ground coffee. So if you want a tasty cup three weeks from now, then you should save those beans and grind them three weeks from now.
That’s why coffee shops always grind your espresso shot right in front of you. And why they always grind beans for their pour-overs after your order.
Freshly ground beans are just that much better than pre-ground beans.
Should you think about ethics?
This is a tricky one. Because if you don’t know what you’re looking for, then it’s easy to be blinded by certifications and branding of the coffee production.
The fact is that it’s expensive for a coffee producer to gain certifications. So only buying FairTrade or USDA Organic coffee doesn’t guarantee you’re supporting good business practices.
In my experience working for a high-end coffee shop, we worked with small coffee growers. They usually couldn’t afford those certifications. But it was always those small farmers that produced the best coffee.
And it was those farmers who needed our business more than the farmers who were able to afford those certifications.
So how do you buy ethically?
Look for the farmer’s name on the bag.
If your shop puts the farmer’s name on the bag or has the exact coffee farm name on the bag, then you can be almost certain that coffee is sourced sustainably.
If there’s only a certification sticker slapped on the bag, then it is fine, but just know that the coffee growers who grew that coffee plant might have been exploited.
Final Words
My top choice of the best Colombian coffee beans is still the Volcanica Colombian Supremo.
It is just such a classic Colombian coffee that’s hard to beat.
The chocolate, caramel, and hint of orange flavors are very obviously Colombian. And they shine in each cup brewed from this coffee.
While it doesn’t pair especially well with cream or sugar, you’ll find that you don’t actually need any for the flavors to be perfect.
It’s a true Colombian coffee at a great price.
