Drinking Colombia’s Finest Brew

Photos and text by Carrie Hibbared

The rolling green hills of southwestern Antioquia are dotted with bright red cherries, not to top a sundae, but to brew up a steaming cup of joe. The first swath of Colombia’s famous coffee zone begins in southern Antioquia, with the town of Andes appropriately dubbed “the commercial gate to the coffee zone.” The winding road from Medellin, in the stretch from Venecia to Bolombolo, provides the visitor with several glances at the razor-sharp angles of Cerro Tusa, supposedly the inspiration for the backdrop in the Juan Valdez coffee logo. The fame of Colombian coffee is indebted to these southwestern farms.

Then why is it that many cafés, even in this coffee-producing region, serve their customers, often coffee-growers, poor-quality instantaneous crap for coffee? Why is it that the hard-working coffee pickers are drinking, not the cream of their crop, but the unappetizing sludge? Like with many other producer countries, their highest quality products are exported to Europe or North America, and the locals are left with the rejects.

It’s time for the locals to enjoy the fruits of their labor, and that is what’s starting to take place in Jardín.

Thanks to iconic actors like George Clooney, the company Nespresso has earned a reputation for producing excellent coffee, selling it in single-dosage espresso capsules only brewed by exclusive Nespresso machines. These capsules come in all the hues of the rainbow, with sexy descriptions reminscent of a wine bottle. For example, Rosabaya, or “Colombia’s pink cherry,” seduces its tasters with its “subtle acidity, winey notes,  typical red fruits, a full body and long duration in the mouth.”

Normally the grand opening event for the latest innovative mix is held in trendy capital cities in Europe. This time the latest Nespresso capsule launched on a patch of the soil where it grew, in Jardin, Antioquia. Dhjana is the first limited edition 100% Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality capsule, meaning it has been grown following criteria for environmental, social and economic sustainability. Knowing that the coffee-pickers are well paid and the watersheds are protected will make the “intense, full-bodied and velvety espresso” taste that much better.

Last month, coffee-producers and coffee-consumers came out to the afternoon event to support excellent quality and sustainably produced local coffee, all settled in the picturesque plaza of Jardín, Antioquia.