Colombia's Record Coffee Harvest Amidst US Tariff Uncertainty

Record Coffee Production in Colombia

• 📈 Colombia's coffee production is set to reach its highest level in over 30 years in 2024, with estimates of over 15 million 60-kilo bags.
• ☕ Colombia is the third largest global coffee exporter, primarily known for producing Arabica beans, with approximately 93% of its 2024 production being exported.

US Tariffs and Export Concerns

• ⚠️ Uncertainty surrounding potential US tariffs is a significant concern for the Colombian coffee industry, as the US is its number one buyer.
• 🇺🇸 Over 500,000 families in Colombia rely on coffee production, and a large portion of exports, including roasted and green beans, are destined for the US market.

The Handpicking Process

• 🤲 All coffee beans are handpicked to ensure quality and achieve the smooth, rich flavor Colombian coffee is known for.
• ⛰️ This manual process is necessary due to the hilly and mountainous terrain of Colombian coffee regions, making machine harvesting impossible.
• ✅ Handpicking allows for the careful selection of the best coffee cherries.

Local Consumption vs. Export Quality

• 🥤 Many Colombians consume a lower quality coffee known as 'tinto', which is affordable and widely available, often with added sugar to mask unpleasant flavors.
• 💰 The high quality, specialty coffees are primarily exported due to high prices, making them unaffordable for many local consumers.