COLOMBIA POPAYAN MUNCHIQUE

Our December Bean of the Month, Popayan Munchique from Colombia, is cultivated by an alliance of indigenous farmers, thrives on traditional cultivation methods fused with modern sustainability practices.

It's a celebration of legacy combined with a forward-looking approach, preserving their ancestral roots while forging a sustainable and equitable path for future generations.

The region is characterized by rich volcanic soil, lofty altitudes, and a temperate climate, all typical of great Colombia coffee growing.

COFFEE ORIGIN PROFILE

Country: Colombia
Region: Cauca
Producers: Central Cooperativa Indigena del Caucas
Varietals: Caturra, Typica, Colombia, Castillo
Process: washed
Altitude: 1,500 - 2,000m above sea level.

Popayan, located in the Cauca region of Colombia, is home to a vibrant coffee industry that is deeply woven into its cultural and economic fabric. The producers of the Popayan Munchique are part of an alliance of Indigenous farmers, and the quality of their coffee is driven by their love of their land.

Traditional methods of cultivation have been passed down through generations and are now being melded with modern techniques for sustainability and efficiency. Such practices not only preserve the lush landscape, but also ensure fair compensation. This empowers the local community to honour their ancestors’ dedication to their home, while shaping the future for their descendants.

The coffee farms in Popayan benefit from a combination of ideal climatic conditions —rich volcanic soil, high altitudes, and a moderate climate— which have made Colombian coffee so well regarded throughout the world. This temperate climate has also made it a hotspot for a growing industry of coffee tourism.

Popayan’s coffee industry now extends beyond cultivation; it's a cultural heritage celebrated through festivals, museums, and guided tours. Visitors immerse themselves in the entire coffee-making process, from bean harvesting to roasting, experiencing the pride and passion of the locals for their craft.

TASTING NOTES

Colombia is famous for high quality at all levels of coffee production: growing, processing, and packing are all carried out to the exacting standards of the Colombian Coffee Federation. The Popoyan Munchique delivers all the hallmarks of that expertise: clean, sweet, and bursting with the classic Colombian notes of chocolate and caramel.

When ground, the beans release aromas of hazelnut and chocolate, warm and rich. Once brewed, delicate apricot sits alongside the buttery sweetness of toffee and caramel. These well-loved flavours are carried in a rounded medium body, making it a full flavoured, well-balanced brew. The acidity is light and fine, just a hint of green apple fizz on the palate keeping the cup clean. And the finish is spectacular: long and sparkling, like a great celebration.

BREW RECOMMENDATIONS

December is a hectic month for most of us, so the recommendations this month are a short-cut for the occasions that inevitably fill our calendars in this crazy time of year:
Long overdue, pre-Christmas coffee catch-up with a mate: flat white, double shot (because it’s December and you running on empty!).

This isn’t the time for a complicated order, you want to focus on talking to the person across the table. Keep it simple with an Australian made classic.

Plunger or Aeropress. Take a moment before you start another day. Smell the grinds, stir the brew, press slowly to extract. Mindfulness has been proven to reduce stress, and brewing can be a kind of meditation. Plus, you get coffee at the end of it.

COFFEE CUPPING DETAILS

SCORE: 85 /100

FLAVOUR: stonefruit, toffee, caramel

AROMA: hazlenut, chocolate

ACIDITY: green apple

BODY: medium

AFTERTASTE: sparkling.