19. Colombia – Huila Excelso EP

Huila in south western Colombia is one of the country’s most important coffee producing regions.

The landscape is dominated by the Andes and influenced by the Colombian Massif, where some of the country’s major mountain systems and rivers originate. Volcanic soils, high elevations and varied microclimates create excellent conditions for coffee.

Huila lot is sourced from various estates rather than one single farm and grows between approximately 1,250 and 2,150 metres above sea level. The wide altitude range, combined with different microclimates across Huila, also contributes to the region’s long harvesting seasons.

The lot includes Bourbon, Castillo, Caturra, Colombia and Typica. These varieties reflect both Colombia’s traditional coffee genetics and decades of breeding work aimed at improving productivity and disease resistance.

The coffee is fully washed, the dominant processing style across much of Colombia. Many small producers operate their own wet mills, allowing cherries to be pulped and fermented close to the farm before parchment coffee moves further through the supply chain.

The name Excelso EP also tells us something about its preparation. Excelso is part of Colombia’s traditional export grading system, while EP means European Preparation. It indicates additional sorting designed to limit physical defects and provide a cleaner, more consistent green coffee.

This lot is also Rainforest Alliance certified, adding independently audited environmental and social standards to its quality credentials.