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Cuisine, Latin America

Gold Standard: Meet South America’s Most Acclaimed Coffee Producers

March 10, 2024 by Luxury Gold No Comments
Close up of barista pouring coffee with coffee art on top

The simple luxury of that first velvety, smooth, punchy morning coffee – it’s a tradition that stretches much further back in time than the invention of the takeaway cup. And the coffee itself likely comes from a lot further away than your nearest cafe. 

Brazil and Colombia are among the leading coffee producing countries in the world, but they’re not the only coffee producers in South America. Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Bolivia grow coffee, though it’s rare for coffee producers from these countries to rank among the world’s best.

When it comes to South America’s most acclaimed coffee producers, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru are often at the top of the industry for coffee production in the world. And these are some of the individual producers putting in the hard work to make those beans sing.

 

Fazendas Pinhal | Brazil 

 

 

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Brazil is the leading producer of coffee in the world; millions of metric tons of coffee are produced each year. As the world’s leading coffee producer for well-over a century, Brazil’s coffee producers have sizable domestic competition for industry acclaim, which makes Pinhal Farm’s achievements especially respectable.  

In 2019, Pinhal Farm was awarded the title of most sustainable farm by Globo Rural Magazine, then again in 2022 by the Brazil Specialty Coffee Association. Sustainable coffee production is paramount at Pinhal: nearly half of its land is undeveloped. Solar panels generate power around the plantation where local students volunteer and rehabilitated native wildlife roam. Pinhal also limits the use of fuel, pesticides, fertilizers, and water whenever possible.

 

 

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Pinhal is also a carbon positive farm, thanks to the existing native forest of eucalyptus trees removing CO2 from the air. 

Coffee drinks throughout Europe, China, Saudi Arabia, and Australia will recognize the leading coffee producer’s Fazenda Pinhal beans in batches like Taylors of Harrogate with its notes of chocolate and caramel and the Geisha roast from Koko that features Nutella, stone-fruit, and white flora flavors. 

Brew beautifully: These Are the Most Beautiful Coffee Machines You Can Buy For Your Home

Sample coffee from some of the leading coffee producers on the continent when you join Grand South America, one of our luxury tours of South America. This 23-day tour takes you across Peru, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, where you’ll have ample opportunity to sit back with a fresh cup of South American coffee.

 

Cafe Jesus Martin | Colombia

 

 

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A post shared by Café Jesús Martín. (@cafejesusmartin)

Colombia is a leading coffee producer in the world, third only behind Brazil and Vietnam. Aromatic, fruity flavors tend to sing from its Arabica beans. Colombia’s coffee beans are in a class all their own, with many specialty coffee drinkers convinced that it’s the best medium-bodied brew in a cup. 

Which is why it’s hard to believe that most Colombians did not know the true taste of their native coffee until quite recently.

 

 

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As is the case in many coffee producing countries, the best batches of beans are often exported, leaving the lower-quality beans for domestic consumption. A Colombian man named Jesus Martin is often credited with “saving” Colombian coffee by introducing specialty coffee to Colombia. 

Since 2008, Cafe Jesus Martin has received high acclaim from Colombian coffee drinkers. The brand has won a number of awards around the world, including in gourmet competitions in Paris. Its Diamante blend is a favorite of Colombians in the cafes town of Salento: a sweet, balanced and elegant coffee that’s not as bold. 

Coffee conquest: Black gold, how the once-humble coffee bean conquered the world

 

Cenfrocafe | Peru

 

 

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Coffee has a complicated history in South America, and in the case of countries like Peru, their story has brewed for some time. Brazil and Colombia are two leading producers of coffee in the world; Peru is making an impact in the industry, but despite sharing borders with both countries, there’s one key difference in Peruvian coffee.

Peru didn’t secure its first coffee plants until decades after the beans were brought to other coffee producing countries in South America. 

Coffee plants were brought to Peru from Colombia and Brazil in the mid 1700s, which means these neighboring countries had anywhere from 20 to 40 years of a head start. In recent centuries, years of economic instability and other social issues have prevented Peruvian coffee from gaining the same ranking in the industry that Brazil and Colombia have.

 

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But Cenfrocafe is slowly changing that. 

Central Fronteriza del Norte de Cafetaleros, of Cenfrocafe, is an agricultural cooperative based in Jaén. It got its start in 1999 by bringing together roughly 220 small coffee farms. Today, Cenfrocafe has between 2,000 and 3,000 members comprising nearly 100 smaller cooperatives. Cenfrocafe’s marketing and European distribution partners are aiding Peruvian coffee’s quest for global recognition. It is the second-largest coffee grower in Peru and has always operated with two primary goals: ensuring 100% Fair Trade and as close to 100% organic output as possible. 

Organic compost and organic fertilizers like Guano de Isla — wild bird excrement from Peruvian islands — are used throughout coffee growth. More importantly, the collective commits to fair wages for farmers, including paying out premiums when they achieve certain quality levels. The washed typica and caturra beans often have notes of blackberry, grape, and vanilla.  

Destination inspiration: Meet the Award-Winning Producers in the World of Luxury Coffee

Take your time sipping coffee as you make your way between the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu during the Treasures of the Incas tour with Luxury Gold. Spend nearly two weeks roaming around this country, making sure to sample cups of locally roasted blends in Cusco and Lima’s cafes.

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Cuisine

Journey into the World of Luxury Coffee: Meet the Award-Winning Producers

November 21, 2023 by Luxury Gold No Comments
Barista pouring milk into coffee

How much would you pay for a cup of award-winning coffee? US$100? That’s how much you can expect to pay for a cup of Panama’s Elida Geisha Natural 1029, thanks to the small scale of its production and the sought-after quality of the beans.

But what sets these beans apart from those that you’re more likely to find in your local corner coffee shop? Simple beans can yield an average cup or a gourmet coffee experience depending on how they’re grown, harvested, roasted, and served.

Coloured coffee beans on plant, Arusha, Tanzania

Both the genetics of the bean and the ecosystem in which it’s grown influence its taste: for instance, Arabica beans are considered premium and can only grow in specific conditions compared to Robusta beans which are more common, cheaper, and can be cultivated in more subtropical and equatorial climates.

The processing, roasting, and serving methods can either mitigate or enhance the bean’s unique characteristics.

Whether you’re searching for a truly gourmet coffee experience or if you’re interested in simply how different cultures brew a cup, put these three countries at the top of your wishlist. 

Learn more: How the once-humble coffee bean conquered the world

You may also like: A glimpse inside a Tuscan wine dynasty

Indonesia

coffee beans in pot being hand roasted

In Indonesia, they drink their coffee black. 

If you’re someone who appreciates a little milk or cream, you may initially be unreceptive to this strong, bitter brew served as-is. But coffee from Indonesia, or “kopi” as it’s called locally, isn’t your average cup. Kopi Luwak is among the most expensive in the world and delivers an unrivaled coffee experience. 

Kopi Luwak is considered one of the best coffees in the world. These beans are sustainably sourced in Indonesia, and while sustainable sourcing is common in other parts of the world, Kopi Luwak employs very specific help when choosing which beans to use.

An Asian Palm Civet is a mongoose-adjacent species that has an extremely discerning taste for coffee beans: they’ll only eat beans that are ripe which allows the producers to identify which of these beans will yield a chocolatey taste that’s far from bitter.

Whole Kopi Luwak beans aren’t cheap. This producer and roaster based in Britain may charge US$120 (£94, €110) for a 1kg bag. With these prices, it’s obvious why you’ll want to skip the cream and sugar to drink this brew as black as possible.

If you prefer a cup of tea, then you’ll love the private high tea experience available on Luxury Gold’s 13-day Imperial Rajasthan tour. This journey through India includes a private visit to a colonial bungalow where you’ll learn about the British Raj.

Colombia

Worms eye view of Colombian flag on tip of building

Colombian coffee is a heavyweight in the coffee industry. It’s the county’s main export and has been for centuries. While Colombia does have a region called the Coffee Zone that produces the lionshare of the country’s beans, the country’s landscape featuring different altitudes, temperatures, and precipitation means coffee producers can grow a variety of different flavors of beans throughout Colombia’s borders. 

This is a country that adores its coffee like no other; there’s even a full theme park dedicated to the history, culture, and production of Colombian coffee called Parque del Cafe. You can’t go wrong with a cup from places like Cafe Jesus Martin, a producer in Salento that is championed even by fellow coffee growers. If you’re searching for an award winning coffee renowned around the globe, fellow Armenian grower Cafe San Alberto will deliver. 

Lush coffee plantations io in Colombia

Like most Colombian coffees, Cafe San Alberto’s Arabica beans are well-balanced, light and flowery yet still a little acidic. Their pickers use a five-step process: first selected on the tree for ripeness and density then separated by weight, color, and size during the drying and threshing processes to ensure each cupping batch is roasted properly to deliver a serene mix of dark chocolate and caramel-like flavor. 

Cafe San Alberto was the first Colombian coffee producer to receive the iTQi Crystal Taste Award, having won the iTQi Superior Taste Award three years in a row, adding to their World Food Fair Gold Medal and Land of Diversity award for most exotic Colombian coffee.

Get your fill of South American coffee when you book Luxury Gold’s Treasures of the Incas tour. Begin your mornings in Peru with fresh cups of coffee on this 12-day adventure that includes a Machu Picchu visit. 

Thailand

Traditional Vietnamese milk coffee

Indonesia’s not the only Asian country that gets a helping hand from wildlife for their award winning coffee. Thailand’s Black Ivory Coffee labels itself “the world’s rarest coffee”, sold only to specific five-star hotels and Michelin star restaurants, with only a small portion available for international purchase by the public. 

What makes this coffee so unique? Its limited reserve is initially digested by elephants. Though the phrase “elephant dung coffee” doesn’t evoke images of the finest Thai Arabica beans, Black Ivory Coffee is exceptionally floral and less fruity than other blends. Some have equated its non-bitter taste to that of a cold brew coffee, though we suggest you try it hot. 

The goal of Black Ivory Coffee is to foster the ethical treatment and protection of elephants; a lack of exploitation means a lack of product availability. This scarcity drives up the price, and if you’re lucky enough to find it in stock, expect to pay USD$2,500 (£1,964, €2300) for a 1kg box.

From Vietnamese iced coffee and egg coffee to fresh brews in Laos and Cambodia, Luxury Gold’s 16-day Inspiring Indochina tour covers 11 cities in 3 countries, each with opportunities for you to experience cafe culture at your leisure.

Read next: A gastronomic guide to Cape Town

Where does your favorite bean or blend of award winning coffee originate from? Let us know what you’re drinking in the comments below.

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