● This post is included in the series about Colombia, included in the #TeamChallenge proposed by @ermest. This series is oriented to introduce our country, its culture and traditions.
● You can find all the posts of this series searching by the hashtags #TeamChallenge and #TeamColombia.
Coffee offers us its magical aroma and flavor for those exceptional and pleasant moments of life: the deep perfume of an espresso for a chat between friends or the closing of a successful business; the sparkling taste of a cappuccino on an interesting conversation or to take a pause during the day; or our Colombian “tinto” (Long Black Coffee) for the start of a labor day. Whether sprinkled with sugar and cream, flavored with caramel or hazelnut, or simply black, coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide. And not only is it a delicious liquid gold, its culture in our country is as penetrating as caffeine itself.
When we enjoy a good coffee, we are tasting the fruit of the care, knowledge and passion of each one of the many people who, throughout the process, from the tree to the cup, contribute to grow it, take care of it, and highlight his attributes. This is why we consider it such a special product. Like no other, coffee approach people, it improves the mood and provides that energy that is usually needed. Affirm that productive energy would suffer a downturn if the world runs out of coffee is not an exaggeration, because this seed has the necessary faculties to switch on an entire economy.
In Colombia, coffee is our insignia product and the cover letter to the world as an important export product. To the point of being the third largest producer and the largest producer of soft coffee in the world.
The main coffee producing departments in Colombia are: Nariño, Norte de Santander, Antioquia, Valle del Cauca, Cundinamarca, Huila, Cauca, Tolima, Caldas, Quindío and Risaralda. The last four known as “El eje cafetero”. The Andean zone in its three mountain ranges, eastern, central and western, are the most favorables for cultivation, due to its volcanic soils, its mild climate and heights ranging from 1300 to 2800 meters above sea level.
Coffee is the main generator of employment in the agricultural sector of our country, due to its productive chain generate economic benefits for thousands of families. All the love and dedication of our farmers, who cultivate and harvest our coffee with their hands, added to the care of roasting masters and the experience of baristas and professionals in the preparation of coffee, are what guarantee that the soft and aromatic cup profile of the best soft coffee in the world, can reach our palates.
I have been the fortune to experience coffee from numerous places and each site produce me a different experience! The coffee culture is booming and with it more and more high-quality coffee shops are opening in Colombia. Each has its own style, coffee blends, unique menu items and brewing techniques. I would like to encourage you to dare to go out and get to know new places and try their different types of preparations.
If you are fortunate enough to visit Medellín, I invite you to check out my list of favorite coffee shops in the city: https://goo.gl/maps/WZ9axhy7asJLYAxo9
And you, how do enjoy coffee? The possibilities to enjoy it are endless for those who take the time to explore it! From one coffee lover to another: Happy sips.
Jorge.
