South America

Colombia

Cradled by three Andean cordilleras and nourished by volcanic loam, Colombia produces some of the world’s most balanced, sweet-fruited coffees. Year-round harvest windows and meticulous washed processing coax out layers of panela sweetness, red-berry brightness and a creamy chocolate finish that have become synonymous with the country’s name.

Key regions:
Huila · Nariño · Cauca

Typical elevation:
1200 – 2100 m

Dominant processing:
Fully washed (increasing honey & experimental lots)

Cup profile:
Panela sweetness, red berries, citrus acidity, chocolate body

Generations of smallholder farmers hand-pick ripe Caturra, Castillo and Bourbon cherries, fermenting them in cool mountain air before sun-drying on raised beds. The combination of high latitude, steep slopes and nutrient-rich volcanic soils yields a cup that balances crystalline acidity with plush caramel depth - equally at home as a clean filter brew or a velvety espresso.

Ecuador

Straddling the equator and crowned by snow-capped Andean volcanoes, Ecuador produces coffees that marry tropical sweetness with high-altitude vibrancy. Dramatic diurnal swings, rainforest humidity and mineral-rich ash soils nurture Typica, Bourbon and Sidra cherries that shimmer with passion-fruit brightness, panela roundness and a cocoa-nib finish.

Key regions:
Loja · Zamora-Chinchipe · Pichincha (Nanegalito)

Typical elevation:
1200 – 2100 m

Dominant processing:
Washed (growing share of honeys & naturals)

Cup profile:
Passion fruit & stone-fruit acidity, panela sweetness, floral overtones, cocoa-nib body

Smallholder farmers hand-select crimson cherries, often fermenting them in cool cloud-forest air before slow patio or raised-bed drying. The convergence of coastal moisture, Andean altitude and volcanic loam yields a cup that balances tropical fruit flair with velvety chocolate depth - ideal for nuanced pour-overs and elegant, syrupy espressos.

Bolivia

Perched on mist-draped Andean slopes that plunge toward the Amazon basin, Bolivia turns out micro-lots famed for their crystalline sweetness and floral lift. Cool nights, intense sunlight and fertile red loam shape Typica, Caturra and Java cherries that sparkle with mandarin zest, wild-flower honey and a velvety cocoa backdrop.

Key regions:
Yungas (Caranavi) · Samaipata · Cochabamba

Typical elevation:
1300 – 1900 m

Dominant processing:
Fully washed (with rising honey & natural styles)

Cup profile:
Mandarin citrus, apricot stone-fruit, wild-flower honey, milk-chocolate body

Generations of smallholder farmers hand-pick crimson cherries, fermenting them in cool mountain shade before slow-drying on raised beds or solar tunnels. The tight diurnal swings concentrate sugars, while diverse rainforest microclimates layer in spice and florals. The result is a cup that marries juicy, orchard-fruit acidity with plush caramel depth - ideal for expressive filter brews or silky, fruit-forward espressos.

Brazil

Blanketing vast plateaus under endless sun, Brazil produces the lion’s share of the world’s coffee - celebrated for its creamy body, gentle acidity and dessert-like sweetness. Warm, dry harvest seasons and centuries-honed natural processing yield beans that anchor countless espresso blends with their chocolate-and-nut depth.

Key regions:
Sul de Minas · Cerrado Mineiro · Mogiana

Typical elevation:
800 – 1400 m

Dominant processing:
Natural & pulped-natural (honey)

Cup profile:
Milk chocolate, roasted hazelnut, dulce-de-leche sweetness, mellow orange acidity

On Brazil’s sprawling fazendas, mechanical harvesters and selective hand-picking gather Catuaí, Mundo Novo and Bourbon cherries, which dry whole under the highland sun or are lightly depulped for honey lots. The combination of low latitude, rich red clay soils and reliable post-harvest weather concentrates sugars, producing a plush, syrupy cup that shines as a stand-alone espresso or lends body and sweetness to blends worldwide.

Peru

Cradled between snow-dusted Andean peaks and lush Amazonian cloud forests, Peru offers coffees famed for their crisp apple acidity, maple-syrup sweetness and lingering cocoa finish. High-elevation terraces, organic agroforestry and meticulous washed processing let Typica, Bourbon and Caturra cherries shine with sparkling clarity and herbal nuance.

Key regions:
Cajamarca · Cusco (La Convención) · San Martín

Typical elevation:
1200 – 2100 m

Dominant processing:
Fully washed (growing honey & natural experimentation)

Cup profile:
Red apple & citrus brightness, maple syrup sweetness, gentle floral notes, cocoa-powder body

Picked by hand on smallholder plots shaded by native timber and fruit trees, cherries are traditionally fermented in cool mountain air, then sun-dried on raised beds. The mix of volcanic loam, fierce daytime sun and brisk, misty nights concentrates sugars and aromas, producing a cup that balances clean, orchard-fruit liveliness with comforting chocolate depth -perfect for bright filter brews or smooth, sweet-toned espressos.