How great it is to have a good cup of coffee, but even better is to discover the best coffees in the country , because we know that all coffee lovers always want the best quality in our cup, we always seek to discover that coffee that matches our palate.
That's why we set out to find the most important events—the best!—so that we can all enjoy the best of Colombian coffee. We're not bringing them to you in order of importance or anything like that; we just want you to know about them and plan to be part of them.
But what are they?
The most important event held in the country is the Cafés de Colombia Expo, which takes place in the city of Bogotá at CORFERIAS in October. It is a specialized fair with more than 500 exhibitors, mainly Colombian producers of specialty coffees , although it also has guests from Latin America. Here you will have the opportunity to learn about the different varieties of flavor according to their region of origin, learn about the different processes, and you will surely leave with more than a pound of coffee in your hand.
In August, Expo EjeCafé takes place at the Coffee Park in Montenegro, Quindío. This event features various specialized activities, including a cupping competition, a Cold Brew competition, a regional coffee quality competition, and a specialty coffee auction. You'll also meet the national barista champion. This is an event for connoisseurs and experts.
Expo Café Nariño is a fair held in August in the department's capital. It provides a space for regional producers to showcase their products and learn about industry trends and innovations. The event also includes activities such as a regional pageant and a coffee route and bike ride. This expo aims to highlight and showcase the uniqueness of single-origin coffees from the Nariño region, which boast smooth, sweet notes and exquisite acidity in every single cup.
Bogotá also hosts the Coffee Fest , an event aimed at all audiences, allowing families to discover and learn more about coffee. It's a festival where consumers learn about the world of coffee and discover new varieties. One of the most exciting activities is the coffee tasting for non-coffee connoisseurs, a learning experience for those just starting out in the world of coffee. Last year, there were more than 84 tasting points, and this year, the number is expected to exceed that number with new exhibitors.
The International Coffee, Cacao, and Agrotourism Fair takes place in the department of Huila at the beginning of September. This department is considered the country's leading producer of specialty coffees , so attendees can find and discover a wide variety of local coffees, as well as some international varieties from the invited countries. In addition to the coffee offerings, this international fair also features a wine tour, the National Golden Cacao Competition, a chocolate show, and a host of other emblematic tourist attractions in the region.
In February, the city of Manizales is adorned with flowers, color, and coffee for the Orchids, Coffee, and Arts Festival , a fair that highlights the culture and traditions of the department of Caldas, as well as the quality of its coffee. The fair seeks to recognize the 100 best coffees in the region, supporting them with economic incentives for their growth. In parallel to this fair, the Caldas Specialty Coffee Competition is held at the National Coffee School, seeking to select the 10 best coffees from among more than 60 participating Caldas producers. The winners represent the department at the Specialty Coffee Expo in Boston.
And since everything in Colombia is a celebration, the National Coffee Festival couldn't be missing. It takes place every year in the department of Quindío and seeks to highlight the typical riches of the coffee-growing regions. This event highlights the National Coffee Pageant, the Willys Jeep Contest, and several coffee routes in the region, all accompanied by the different varieties of specialty coffees presented within this national celebration.
Colombia is a country full of coffee and in each region you will find different aromas, flavors and sweetness that give the cup a unique experience, that is why now the invitation is to travel the country tasting its variety of coffee in every corner and discovering the best of our coffees, with these fairs and events we get closer to the different producers who work to strengthen the Colombian coffee industry, in addition to being ideal spaces to delve much deeper into this world and learn everything that these producers have discovered with their coffees of origin.