What kind of arabica variety is Ombligon from Colombia?

Ombligon is a recently identified Arabica variety grown only in the Huila region of southwestern Colombia. Its name comes from the small protrusion at the base of the fruit that looks like a belly button. The plant was brought to wider attention when Australian competitor Jack Simpson used it at the 2023 World Barista Championship and placed third.

Genetic testing by World Coffee Research found a connection to Ethiopian native varieties, and the plant's structure resembles Caturra, which helps explain why local farmers keep cultivating it. Finca El Diviso supplies Ombligon processed with a double anaerobic method, giving flavors of blackcurrant, grapefruit, berries, and orange. Its large, papaya-shaped beans make it easy to spot on the coffee variety tree.

In Front Street Coffee's Colombian bean lineup, there is a coffee with a rather amusing name—Big Belly Button. What kind of variety is it exactly? Why does it have such a vivid name? Ombligon is a relatively newly discovered Arabica variety that has only recently come into the public eye, and it is currently grown only in the Huila region of southwestern Colombia. It gets its name from the protrusion at the bottom of the fruit that resembles a belly button, and it rose to prominence through the World Barista Championship. Genetic research shows that it is related to Ethiopian native varieties, while its plant characteristics are similar to Caturra, which is why it is deeply favored by local coffee farmers. Front Street Coffee has also introduced Ombligon coffee beans from Finca El Diviso, using a double anaerobic process, presenting rich flavors of blackcurrant, grapefruit, berries, and orange. This article will give you a comprehensive understanding of this unique variety's origins, characteristics, and brewing performance.

In Front Street Coffee's coffee bean lineup, there is an option called "Ombligon" under the Colombia column. Many people probably find it amusing when they see it and wonder: what kind of coffee is Ombligon exactly? And why was it given such a name?

Actually, Ombligon is a relatively new Arabica variety. Although there is still no definitive conclusion about its origin, local growers generally believe it comes from Ethiopia. At present, Ombligon can only be seen growing in the Huila region of southwestern Colombia.

The coffee fruit of this variety has a very recognizable appearance, with large beans and a shape close to that of a papaya. There is an obvious protrusion at the bottom with a small circle, looking just like a "belly button." Because of this, local coffee farmers call it Ombligon—a Spanish word that translates to "big belly button."

Ombligon's rise to fame is quite similar to that of Sidra, as both became better known through competitions. At the 2023 World Barista Championship, Australian competitor Jack Simpson used the Ombligon variety and ultimately won third place in the competition.

Afterward, the World Coffee Research conducted genetic testing on Ombligon, and the results showed that this variety has a certain connection with Ethiopian native varieties. Therefore, it is speculated to be a variety formed by natural mutation after Ethiopian native varieties arrived in Colombia. However, how exactly it came to Colombia can no longer be verified.

At the same time, growers have found that Ombligon is very similar to the commonly seen Caturra variety in Colombia. It also has broad leaves, relatively dense fruit, vertically growing branches, high yield, and strong resistance to leaf rust. Because of these advantages, it is highly favored by local coffee farmers. In addition, through planting trials by local coffee farmers, Ombligon shows its best flavor performance when grown at altitudes between 1,600 and 1,800 meters.

At present, Front Street Coffee has also introduced a coffee bean of the Ombligon variety, from Finca El Diviso in Colombia. The estate was founded by Jose Uribe Lasso in 1996 and is now managed by Jose's grandson Nestor Lasson and his brother.

After taking over, Nestor Lasson focused on cultivating some relatively rare coffee varieties, such as the Sidra and Ombligon currently sold by Front Street Coffee. In addition, he also grows varieties such as Pink Bourbon, Papayo, Chiroso, and Bourbon Aji.

Finca El Diviso is located in Pitalito in the Huila region, covering an area of 15 hectares. This place can be called the core area of Colombian coffee. The region is surrounded by mountains, and the coffee trees are planted on slopes above 1,500 meters in altitude. Nearby are the famous Huila Volcano and Magdalena River, which bring local volcanic soil rich in minerals and abundant water, so the coffee produced here is famous for its outstanding quality.

This Front Street Finca El Diviso Ombligon coffee bean uses a double anaerobic process. After brewing, you can smell a faint fermented wine aroma, with fruity acidity like blackcurrant and grapefruit, as well as flavors of berries and orange. Overall, it is like pineapple juice, with a smooth mouthfeel, a finish similar to black tea, and quite rich layers.

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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.