About Colombia Supremo Huila
Latest arrival September 2020. The Huila region is home to some of Colombia's top coffee and is located in the south of the country, where the three cordilleras or mountain range merge. Huila is surrounded by Tolima, Cauca and Narino with together comprise the Southern growing region. Crops are harvested from April to June and from October to December. Coffee is grown under old, huge cotton-silk shade trees called Ceibas. Farm elevations are generally 5200 to 6000 feet. Ripe cherries are hand picked, mostly by women from the region, then wet processed using traditional fermentation, washing with pure mountain water using a series of canals, and sun-drying on patios. Supremo beans are large and uniform with 90% of them over screen 18.
Supremo beans merged from area smallholders can be simple, clean and verstile. Use them for single origin, blend components to add brightness and dark roasts. They are dense, durable and large.
Cup Characteristics: Clean and bright with intense aroma. Light acidity and generous sweetness. Nice preparation.
Roasting Notes: Durable, high grown coffee capable of roasts between City Plus (C+) and dark roasts past second crack, and steps in between. The beans are large and dense, having enough acidity to hold up to dark roasting while still being flavorful.
If you roast on a Behmor we suggest profile P2 for this coffee. We felt this profile offered the best combination of body and acidity. P3 is also quite decent.
Colombia coffee facts:
Main crop seasons vary depending on location. For many the main crop is Sept - December. Some regions have a mid crop as well.
Population: 43.6 Million people
Domestic Consumption: 1.8 Million Bags of 70 Kg. (154 lb.)
Coffee Export: 12.5 Million Bags of 70 Kg. (154 lb.)
Cultivated Area: 1.1 Million Hectares (2.7 Million Acres)
Harvest: Main Crop: October to January (60%)
Fly Crop: April to June (40%)
Note: In Narino, due to its geography, Main and Fly crop seasons
are reversed.
Arabica Introduced: From the Carribean through Venezuela
Farms: 300,000
Specialty Coffees:
Supremo basis of a 17 screen size
Excelso basis of a 16/17 screen size
Botanical Varieties:
Bourbon, Typica, Caturra, Maragogype, Variety Colombia (hybrid
of Timor and Caturra)
Crop Comments
Colombia is the second largest exporter of Arabica coffee in the world. All coffee grown is Arabica species, and mostly all is grown at high elevation and wet processed. Supremo is the country's highest grade though the highest elevation coffee can be smaller and thus not able to make the size grade although more concentrated. Colombia coffee has a well-earned reputation as having fine body, pleasant acidity and clean flavor. Each region brings a little something different to the final product.