Colombian coffee holds a legendary status for a reason. Grown in the rich, volcanic soil of the Andes mountains, these beans are known for their well-balanced profile, featuring a harmonious blend of brightness, body, and nuanced flavors. From single-origin treasures to expertly crafted blends, the world of Colombian coffee offers something for every palate and brewing method.
Navigating the numerous options can be a challenge, which is why we’ve curated a list of the top choices available. This guide will help you understand the distinct characteristics of different roasts and preparations, ensuring you find the perfect Colombian coffee to match your taste preferences and morning routine. Whether you prioritize organic certification, a specific roast level, or convenient single-serve pods, your next favorite brew is on this list.
The Best Colombian Coffees to Buy Right Now
- Java Planet Low Acid Organic Coffee – Whole Bean
- Juan Valdez Cumbre Ground Coffee, Dark Roast
- Colombian Peaberry Coffee, Whole Bean, Supremo
- Café Bustelo Espresso Style Dark Roast K-Cup Pods
- Lavazza Gran Riserva Filtro Whole Bean Coffee
- Peet’s Coffee Light Roast Ground Coffee – Luminosa
- Death Wish Coffee – Dark Roast Single Serve Pods
- Newmans Own Organics Newmans Special Blend
- Amazon Fresh Colombia Whole Bean Coffee
- Starbucks Colombia Medium Roast Whole Bean Coffee
Java Planet Low Acid Organic Coffee – Whole Bean
Java Planet offers a standout option for those who love coffee but need a gentler brew. This medium-dark roast Colombian single-origin coffee is specifically crafted to be low in acid, making it a popular choice for consumers with sensitive stomachs. You don’t have to sacrifice flavor for comfort, as this coffee maintains a smooth and full-bodied profile.
Beyond being stomach-friendly, this coffee is certified Organic and Smithsonian Bird Friendly, meaning its cultivation protects migratory bird habitats. For additional peace of mind, the beans are independently tested to be free from pesticides, mold, and heavy metals. You receive a clean, high-quality cup that is both ethically sourced and easy on your system.
Juan Valdez Cumbre Ground Coffee, Dark Roast
For an authentic Colombian coffee experience, look no further than the brand that represents the nation’s growers. Juan Valdez Cumbre is a dark roast ground coffee that showcases an expert blend of beans from various Colombian regions. This results in a cup with intense flavors and distinct notes of dry fruits.
This dark roast is characterized by its medium acidity and body, providing a complex and rich taste without excessive bitterness. It’s an excellent choice for those who appreciate a robust and flavorful dark roast that stays true to the high-quality standards of Colombian coffee production. The pre-ground format offers convenience without compromising on the authentic profile.
Colombian Peaberry Coffee, Whole Bean, Supremo
This coffee features the rare and prized Peaberry bean, a natural mutation where a single, round bean forms inside the coffee cherry instead of the usual two flat-sided beans. These beans are hand-selected and are known for their concentrated and intense flavor. As a Supremo grade, it represents the largest screen size and highest quality of Colombian beans.
The medium roast allows the true character of these special beans to come through, offering a perfect balance between a medium-sweet acidity and a smooth, light body. The roaster ensures a safe and pure product by subjecting the beans to rigorous testing for mold and other impurities before and after roasting, guaranteeing a fresh and clean coffee experience.
Café Bustelo Espresso Style Dark Roast Coffee, 72 Count K-Cup Pods
Café Bustelo brings its iconic, bold Latin flavor to the world of single-serve convenience. This pack of 72 K-Cup pods is perfect for households with Keurig machines who prefer a strong, dark roast coffee. The espresso-style grind produces a rich and intense brew that stands up well to milk or sugar.
While it’s a blend of beans from various Latin American countries, the inclusion of Colombian beans contributes to its robust character. The profile includes fruity flavor notes that add complexity to the deep, dark roast. It’s an affordable and efficient way to enjoy a powerfully flavorful coffee every morning.
Lavazza Gran Riserva Filtro Whole Bean Coffee Dark Roast
Lavazza’s Gran Riserva Filtro offers an Italian take on dark roast coffee, using a 100% natural Arabica blend that includes Colombian beans. This large 2.2-pound bag is ideal for dedicated coffee drinkers who go through beans quickly. The “Filtro” in the name indicates it is optimized for drip or filter brewing methods.
This dark roast is known for its aromatic notes of cocoa and caramel, which provide a pleasant sweetness to balance the roast’s intensity. Lavazza’s expertise in blending creates a consistent and authentic Italian coffee experience, delivering a full-bodied and satisfying cup that is both rich and smooth.
Peet’s Coffee, Light Roast Ground Coffee – Luminosa Breakfast Blend
For those who prefer a brighter, lighter cup, Peet’s Coffee Luminosa Breakfast Blend is an excellent choice. This light roast ground coffee allows the inherent flavors of the beans to shine, resulting in a vibrant and nuanced profile. It’s a refreshing alternative to the more common medium and dark roasts.
Peet’s is committed to quality and sustainability, offering organic and fair trade options. This blend is crafted to be a crisp and lively start to the day, perfect for morning brewing. The pre-ground format ensures consistency and ease of use for your daily coffee routine.
Death Wish Coffee – Dark Roast Single Serve Pods
Death Wish Coffee is famous for its high-caffeine content and intensely bold flavor. These single-serve pods are designed for those who need an extra kick to power through their day. The dark roast blend combines premium Arabica and Robusta beans, including beans from Colombia, to create a powerful and potent brew.
Despite its strength, the coffee is known for its smoothness, with a flavor profile that includes subtle notes of cherry and chocolate without excessive bitterness. If you are looking for the ultimate high-octane coffee in a convenient pod format, this product delivers both on energy and a complex, bold taste.
Newmans Own Organics Newmans Special Blend, Medium Roast Ground Coffee
When you choose Newman’s Own Organics, you’re supporting a great cause, as 100% of the brand’s profits are donated to help kids. The Special Blend is a medium roast ground coffee that combines Central American and Indonesian beans for a rich and robust flavor with ample body.
This coffee is 100% USDA Certified Organic, ensuring it is produced without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. It offers a well-rounded and satisfying cup that is both flavorful and socially responsible. It’s a feel-good choice that doesn’t compromise on taste or quality.
Amazon Fresh Colombia Whole Bean Coffee, Medium Roast
Amazon Fresh offers a straightforward and reliable Colombian coffee that provides excellent value. This medium roast whole bean coffee is 100% Arabica and grown exclusively in Colombia, ensuring an authentic and balanced profile. The pack of three 12-ounce bags is perfect for stocking up.
This coffee is characterized by its full-bodied flavor and smooth finish, making it a versatile and crowd-pleasing option for daily brewing. Grinding the whole beans yourself just before brewing will result in the freshest and most aromatic cup, capturing all the nuanced flavors of the medium roast.
Starbucks Colombia Medium Roast Whole Bean Coffee
A classic and widely available option, Starbucks Colombia is a consistent and familiar choice for many coffee drinkers. This medium roast whole bean coffee showcases the smooth and balanced qualities that Colombian beans are known for, with a touch of nutty flavor.
Starbucks’ roasting process brings out a consistent profile that is both approachable and satisfying. Buying the whole bean format allows you to grind it to your preferred consistency for a fresher taste than pre-ground alternatives. It’s a dependable go-to for those who appreciate the signature Starbucks taste at home.
Buying Guide: How to Choose Your Perfect Colombian Coffee
As someone who drinks a lot of coffee, I know that picking a bag of Colombian beans can feel overwhelming. There are so many options, from the grocery store shelf to specialty roasters. But once you know what to look for, finding a coffee you love becomes much easier. This guide will walk you through the key things I consider when I’m choosing from the 10 best Colombian coffees: a review and buying guide.
First, think about the roast level. Colombian beans are versatile, but the roast dramatically changes their character. A light roast will highlight the bean’s natural, bright acidity and complex fruit or floral notes. It’s my go-to for pour-over or drip brewing. A medium roast is the classic profile many people expect—balanced, with a smooth body, notes of caramel or nuts, and a clean finish. Dark roasts bring out bolder, richer flavors like dark chocolate and a heavier body, but they can overshadow the bean’s origin characteristics. I usually save dark roasts for espresso.
Next, check the roast date, not just the expiration date. Coffee is at its best within a few weeks of being roasted. I always look for a bag that has a “roasted on” date printed on it. Freshness is non-negotiable for a great cup. If you can, buy from local roasters or brands that prioritize fast shipping. Stale coffee tastes flat and dull, no matter how good the beans were initially.
Then, consider the region within Colombia. This is where the real fun begins. Colombian coffee isn’t a single flavor. Beans from Huila often have a vibrant acidity with fruity and wine-like tones. Coffee from Nariño tends to be full-bodied with a pronounced chocolatey character. Antioquia offers a classic, well-balanced cup with nutty and caramel sweetness. Knowing the region gives you a clue about the flavor profile you’re about to experience.
Finally, pay attention to the grind. For the freshest, most flavorful coffee, I always buy whole beans and grind them right before I brew. If you don’t have a grinder, make sure you select the correct grind size for your brewing method. A coarse grind is for French press, a medium grind is for drip machines, and a fine grind is for espresso. Using the wrong grind can lead to a cup that is either bitter and over-extracted or weak and under-extracted.
FAQ
What makes Colombian coffee so special?
Colombia has a unique combination of high-altitude Andes mountain terrain, rich volcanic soil, and a perfect climate for growing Arabica beans. This “Coffee Belt” geography, combined with the meticulous care of thousands of small family farms, results in beans that are consistently high quality. The flavor is often described as balanced, with a medium body, bright acidity, and clean finish, making it very approachable and versatile for any coffee drinker.
Is there a difference between 100% Colombian and other blends?
Absolutely. When a bag says “100% Colombian,” it means all the beans inside are sourced from Colombia. This is a mark of quality and a specific origin profile. A “Colombian blend” or just “Colombian” on a blend often means it contains a portion of Colombian beans mixed with beans from other countries, like Brazil or Vietnam. The pure, single-origin character is diluted. For the authentic experience, I always look for the 100% Colombian label.
What is the best way to brew Colombian coffee?
This really depends on the specific bean and your personal taste. For a bright, complex single-origin from a region like Huila, I love using a pour-over method like a Hario V60 or a Chemex. It really allows those nuanced fruity and floral notes to shine. For a more traditional, balanced cup from a region like Antioquia, a standard auto-drip machine works perfectly. A French press is great if you want to highlight the full body and chocolatey notes of a darker roast or a bean from Nariño.
Should I choose single-origin or a blend for my daily coffee?
This is a matter of preference. A single-origin Colombian coffee lets you taste the unique characteristics of a specific farm or region. It’s an experience, and the flavors can change from one harvest to the next. A blend that includes Colombian beans is often crafted for consistency and a specific, unchanging flavor profile that is balanced and reliable. For my daily drink, I often prefer a high-quality, medium-roast single-origin because I enjoy noticing the subtle differences.
How does the “Supremo” grade differ from “Excelso”?
This is a common point of confusion. “Supremo” and “Excelso” are size grades, not quality grades. Supremo beans are slightly larger, having passed through a screen with larger holes. Excelso beans are a bit smaller. In my experience, there is no significant difference in cup quality or flavor between the two. The flavor is influenced much more by the region, altitude, and processing method than by the physical size of the bean. Don’t pay a big premium for Supremo thinking it’s inherently better.
Can I use Colombian coffee for espresso?
You certainly can! Many Colombian beans, especially medium to dark roasts from regions like Nariño, make excellent espresso. They often provide a great base with their balanced acidity and notes of chocolate and nuts, resulting in a smooth, sweet shot that isn’t too bitter. I’ve found that a well-roasted Colombian single-origin can produce a fantastic and complex espresso on its own.