How did Colombia's coffee farms recover after war and decline?
Coffee reached Colombia around 1723 through Jesuit monks, but the industry only took shape in the late 19th century. The civil war of 1899 to 1903 reduced the farming population and left many coffee farms abandoned. By 1912 the crop had recovered and accounted for half of the country's total exports.
Smallholders lacked market power, so a coffee alliance formed in 1920 and became the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia in 1927. Through quality control, research centers and the Juan Valdez image, the FNC helped Colombia become the third-largest coffee producer. Finca El Diviso in Huila gained attention for its Sidra and Geisha varieties after the 2022 WBC.
Colombia is located in the northern part of South America. Geographically, the west features the Andes mountain range and coastal plains, while the east consists of the Orinoco and Amazon plains. Coffee is said to have been brought to this land by Jesuit monks in 1723, but the industry truly took shape only in the late 19th century. Afterward, the country experienced wars that led to a decline in coffee cultivation. The government then divided and sold wasteland to farmers, allowing coffee to regain momentum in 1912 and account for half of total exports. Small farms lacked market influence, which led to the creation of the Coffee Alliance in 1920 and its evolution into the more authoritative National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia (FNC) in 1927. Through quality control, the establishment of research centers, and the creation of the Juan Valdez image, the FNC propelled Colombia to become the world's third-largest coffee producer and exporter. This article will also introduce Finca El Diviso in the Huila region, and its Sidra and Geisha varieties that gained popularity after winning the 2022 WBC.
Colombia is located in the northern part of South America and is a country that possesses both coastlines and inland territory. Its terrain can be broadly divided into two major regions: the mountainous west and the plains of the east. The west is dominated by the Andes mountain range, interspersed with several coastal plains; the east is mainly composed of the Orinoco and Amazon plains.
Some literature indicates that coffee entered Colombia around 1723 through Jesuit monks and gradually spread to various regions. However, the substantial growth of the coffee industry did not occur until the late 19th century. Between 1899 and 1903, Colombia was engulfed in a civil war, which led to a significant decrease in the population cultivating coffee and the abandonment of many coffee plantations. After the civil war ended, the government, in order to revive the coffee economy, consolidated large tracts of wasteland and divided them into small plots, selling them to farmers at very low prices to encourage them to plant coffee and other crops and restart their livelihoods. By 1912, the coffee industry had shown improvement and accounted for 50% of Colombia's total exports.
However, the production model dominated by smallholders made it difficult to gain sufficient influence in the international coffee market. In 1920, at the call of coffee growers, the Colombian Coffee Alliance was formed to protect the rights and interests of small coffee farms. The organization gradually expanded and in 1927 promoted the establishment of the more authoritative and regulatory National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, known as FNC. After its founding, the FNC implemented several measures, including strict quality control, the establishment of the National Coffee Research Center, and the creation of the image of Juan Valdez and his mule Conchita to promote Colombian coffee, thereby enhancing the country's coffee competitiveness and influence globally. Today, Colombia is the world's third-largest coffee producer and exporter, but the cultivation form is still mainly small estates. Among them are many well-known estates, such as Finca El Diviso.
Nestor Lasso with family and friends
Finca El Diviso is located in Huila, Colombia's most renowned coffee region, at an altitude of about 1,700 meters. It is a family business with 27 years of coffee-growing experience, founded in 1996 by Jose Uribe Lasso, with a planting area of 14 hectares. Daily work is basically carried out by family and friends, and it is currently managed by the founder's son, Nestor Lasso. The small harvest season is from May to July each year, and the main harvest season is from September to December. Twelve coffee varieties are grown on the farm, including Geisha, Pink Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, Castillo, Sidra, and Caturra.
Australian competitor Anthony Douglas
At the 2022 World Barista Championship (WBC), Australian competitor Anthony Douglas chose Sidra coffee beans from Finca El Diviso and ultimately won the championship. Since then, Finca El Diviso and the Sidra variety quickly gained popularity.
Of course, FrontStreet Coffee has also purchased beans from Finca El Diviso. In addition to the champion's same Sidra, it has also introduced the estate's Geisha. FrontStreet Coffee's El Diviso Sidra uses a double anaerobic natural process, brewed with a V60 at a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, offering a fermented note on the palate with flavors of grape, passion fruit, dried apricot, and citrus, and a rich, smooth mouthfeel. FrontStreet Coffee's El Diviso Geisha, on the other hand, is washed, also brewed with a V60 at 1:15, revealing jasmine floral notes, with red grapefruit and citrus flavors on the palate and a smooth texture like black tea.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
