Know Your Coffee Green Beans: Colombia Excelso
Welcome back to the heart of coffee! In this post, we’re diving into another South American classic: Colombia Excelso. While often overshadowed by its larger sibling, Supremo, Excelso is the workhorse of Colombian coffee, representing a vast majority of the country’s exports. Known for its consistent quality, smooth body, and sweet flavor profile, Excelso is a versatile and reliable choice for both home roasters and commercial roasters alike.
🌍 Where It Is Grown
Similar to Supremo, Excelso is a grade, not a specific region. It comes from the same key coffee-growing departments across Colombia, including Antioquia, Huila, Nariño, and Cauca. The coffee is grown by a network of smallholder farmers who form the backbone of Colombia’s coffee industry.
Varietals & Growing Conditions: The primary varietals are indigenous Arabica varieties such as Caturra, Castillo, and Colombia, known for their high yield and excellent cup quality.
- Soil: The fertile, volcanic soil of the Andean mountain ranges is rich in nutrients, contributing to the coffee’s balanced and classic flavor profile.
- Microclimate: The diverse microclimates provide a steady cycle of rainfall and moderate temperatures, which allows for multiple harvests throughout the year and ensures consistent bean development.
- Altitude: 1,200 to 2,000 meters.
- Growing Conditions: Tropical climate, consistent rainfall, moderate temperatures, and high-altitude slopes. The use of shade-grown methods is widespread, which helps to preserve soil health and the coffee’s natural flavor.
- Sustainability: The Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (FNC) is a key organization that provides support and resources to farmers, promoting fair trade practices and sustainable cultivation methods that benefit both the environment and the local communities.
☕ What It Tastes Like
Colombia Excelso is celebrated for a tasting profile that is smooth, approachable, and consistently satisfying. It is an excellent choice for those who prefer a coffee that is not overly aggressive or complex.
- Expect a clean, smooth cup with a medium body.
- The acidity is typically balanced and mild, often described as a gentle citric or malic acidity.
- The body is medium and silky, providing a very pleasant mouthfeel.
- Common notes include caramel, honey, roasted nuts, and sometimes a hint of soft fruit or cocoa, with a clean and sweet finish.
💰 Market / Price Insights
- Pricing: As a slightly smaller bean size than Supremo, Excelso is often more affordable, making it a popular choice for roasters looking for a high-quality yet cost-effective green bean. It represents a fantastic value for its quality and consistency.
- Sustainability Efforts: The widespread cultivation and organization of Colombian coffee farmers through the FNC and other cooperative bodies ensure a high level of traceability and ethical sourcing. These systems support the farmers by providing stable prices and technical assistance, ensuring the long-term viability of the coffee industry in Colombia.
💧 Processing Method
The most common method for Colombian Excelso coffee is the washed (or wet) process, which is crucial to achieving its clean and balanced profile.
- Washed Process: The coffee cherries are harvested, and their skin and pulp are mechanically removed. The remaining beans, covered in mucilage, are placed in fermentation tanks. This process breaks down the mucilage, after which the beans are thoroughly washed and then dried on patios or in mechanical dryers until the ideal moisture level is reached.
- Flavor Differences: This process results in a coffee with a clean, bright, and well-defined flavor profile. The washed method highlights the inherent sweetness and smooth characteristics of the bean, giving it a classic and comforting taste that is very different from the fruit-forward notes of naturally processed coffees.
🔥 How to Roast It
Roasting Colombia Excelso is a satisfying experience due to its consistency and forgiving nature. It is an excellent bean for beginners to practice with.
- For Beginners: A medium roast is the ideal starting point. The beans roast evenly and develop their classic sweet and nutty flavors without requiring intricate heat adjustments. Aim for the end of the first crack or slightly after to preserve its pleasant sweetness and smooth body.
- For Advanced Roasters: You can explore a range of profiles to emphasize different notes. A light-medium roast will highlight its brighter, caramel and honey-like sweetness. A medium-dark roast will bring out deeper, more robust chocolate and nutty notes, making it a great base for espresso blends. Its uniform density makes it easy to achieve a consistent roast.
💡 Post Roasting Requirement
Allow the roasted beans to rest for at least 2-4 days. This extended degassing period is important for the flavors to settle and for the coffee to reach its peak smoothness and sweetness.
Store the beans in a cool, dark place in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
😋 Flavor Profile / Tasting Notes
- Cupping Descriptors: When cupping a Colombia Excelso, you will notice a clean aroma with notes of sweet caramel and toasted nuts. The taste profile is marked by a delicious sweetness, often reminiscent of caramel, brown sugar, and toasted almonds, with a hint of subtle citrus. The finish is clean, smooth, and very pleasant.
- Comparisons: While it shares a similar flavor family with Supremo, Excelso’s slightly smaller bean size often results in a more consistently smooth and gentle cup. It is the quintessential “all-day” coffee, dependable and satisfying in its simplicity.
☕ Brewing Recommendations
To get the most out of Colombia Excelso’s smooth and sweet flavor, choose brewing methods that accentuate its body and balanced profile.
- Drip Coffee Maker: The perfect method for a consistently delicious and easy-to-make cup.
- French Press: This method will highlight the coffee’s smooth, full body and bring out its rich, sweet notes.
- Espresso: Excelso’s balanced profile and pleasant body make it a fantastic choice for a single-origin espresso or as the base for a blend.
🏡🔥 Tips for Home Roasters
- Consistent Roasting: Excelso’s uniform bean size and density make it a great bean for practicing your roasting technique.
- Versatility: Its balanced flavor profile means it can be roasted to a variety of levels to suit different tastes, from bright and sweet to rich and chocolatey.
- Value: Given its excellent quality and relatively affordable price, Excelso is a perfect choice for stocking up and perfecting your home roasting skills.
The Heart of Colombian Coffee
The story of Colombia Excelso is the story of the country’s coffee industry itself. The “Excelso” grade (screen size 15/16) signifies a high-quality, though slightly smaller, bean. The existence of both Supremo and Excelso grades speaks to Colombia’s rigorous classification system, which helps to maintain quality control and ensures that every batch of coffee meets specific standards.
The Colombian coffee industry’s success is a testament to the hard work of millions of smallholder farmers. Their dedication to hand-picking ripe cherries and following meticulous processing methods is what gives Colombian coffee its world-renowned reputation for quality and consistency.
So, while not as famously large as Supremo, Excelso holds a special place in the coffee world for its reliability, approachability, and delicious, sweet flavor profile. It is a true testament to the heart and soul of Colombian coffee.
❓ FAQs
Q: What is the difference between Supremo and Excelso?
A: The primary difference is bean size. Supremo beans are larger (screen size 17/18), while Excelso beans are slightly smaller (screen size 15/16). Both are high-quality, but Supremo is graded higher due to its size.
Q: Is Colombia Excelso acidic?
A: It has a mild and balanced acidity that is not sharp or overpowering.
Q: Where can I buy green Colombia Excelso beans?
A: You can find high-quality green Excelso beans from suppliers like Sweet Marias, Happy Mug Coffee, or Genuine Origin.
So, go ahead and explore this exquisite coffee. Its reliable flavors and consistent quality are a testament to the dedication of Colombian coffee farmers.
Until the next sip, keep exploring the world of coffee. Explore our roasting tips, or read about another gem in our “Know Your Coffee Green Beans” series!
