COLOMBIAN — FULL CITY ROAST —
Colombian coffee, mainly the Caturra and Castillo varieties, is often regarded as some of the highest quality coffee worldwide. It’s famed for its bright acidity, light fruity notes and pleasing medium body in the cup. Colombia has traditionally grown arabica beans, and the country’s unique geography makes it perfectly suited for producing a delicious, high quality brew. Excellent growing conditions there have paired with an aggressive marketing campaign by the National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC), which has worked since the late 1950’s to bring Colombia’s coffee sector to the forefront of international attention.
Colombia has traditionally been second in global coffee production only to Brazil, but has been set back to third by Vietnam’s recent market entry and rapidly expanding production of robusta coffees. Over 500,000 farms, most of them small landholdings of 5 hectares or less, are scattered across the zonas cafeteras, some of the most biologically diverse landscapes in the world. Colombia is bisected by the
Andes Mountains which splits into three parallel cordilleras (mountain ranges) as they run south to north. Much of Colombia’s coffee is grown in this area. About three times the size of Montana, Colombia contains two of South America’s five “biodiversity hotspots.” The Tumbes-Choco occupies all of the coast. The Tropical Andes hotspot covers the mountain ranges, with the Conservation International calling the Colombian Andes “the richest and most diverse region on earth.” The tropical Andean chain contains one sixth of the world’s plant species in only one percent of its land area.
SULAWESI TORAJA — VIENNA ROAST —
The history of coffee cultivation in the northern parts of South Sulawesi is a mystery. It is not known how it arrived or when it was first cultivated, only that coffee was cultivated well before the Colonial period hundreds of years ago. The most famous part of the coffee area in Sulawesi (previously called Celebes) is Toraja, which is the center of the coffee production area and located near the highest points of the Sesean Mountains.
Torajan people are descendants of Indochinese (possibly Cambodian) oceanic traders who crossed the sea to settle in the Sulawesi highlands and engage in agriculture. A very independent ethnic group they have managed to maintain their cultural identity, reflected in their language, social manners and religion (called Aluk To Dolo). Their homes (called Tongkonans) are built in the shape of their original boats. Great craftsmanship and attention to detail is evident in these buildings.
This detail and precision are also reflected in their coffee crop, as Toraja is known for producing one of the best Arabica coffees in the world. Until the late 1980’s, the annual crop amounted to 400 tons of Toraja and 200 tons of Rantepao. The exclusive original varieties cost about $12 per pound. Since cultivation has increased greatly, the price has gone down, but the exclusivity of the cup quality remains unchanged. You can expect aromas of chocolate and almond, with full-bodied richness and low acidity. Flavors include sweetness, spiciness and smoke.
Cooperative Petani Kopi Organik Toraja (PKO) consists of 570 farmers with small plots known as gardens, that average 1 hectare each. Their coffee is organic by default, harvested today as it was in the past. These farmers are now part of the first organic certified coffee Cooperative in Sulawesi, PKO, and receive a premium for their coffee. Their goal is to produce the best organic Toraja Arabica while improving the livelihood of all the farmers and their families, socially and economically. All their jute coffee bags are marked with the symbol of the sun, or Bariallo, ensuring health, luck and prosperity.
