Colombia Palermo

The Colombia Palermo coffee beans come from the small village of Oporapa in the province of Huila in southwest Colombia. This area in the foothills of the Andes has lush nature and a mild climate at around 1,700 meters altitude, ideal conditions for coffee cultivation. Within Colombia, Huila is the largest region for specialty coffee and is known for both high production and great quality. Coffees from Huila excel in their bright acidity, sweetness and aromatic profile, which makes this region a favorite among connoisseurs.

The beans for Colombia Palermo are supplied by local small-scale farmers, guided by coffee expert Juan Fernando Saldarriaga. He exports this coffee through his company Tierra de Café and continually seeks exceptional quality. Thanks to his expertise in coffee cultivation on his own estate, he collaborates with other farms in the area to safeguard quality. The result is a traceable product from farm to cup: the close cooperation means the origin can partly be traced back to individual farmers, underscoring transparency and care for the coffee.

This coffee is freshly roasted by 30ML Coffee Roasters in the Netherlands, where small batches are roasted weekly for optimal freshness. The roasters combine craft and science to develop a specific roast profile for each Single Origin that brings the unique flavors forward. For the Colombia Palermo, they have created a balanced profile that highlights the natural sweetness and floral notes without losing the nuances. The roast is medium-dark, which corresponds to a medium roast. At this roast level, the beans are light brown without an oily sheen, and both the gentle acidity and the sweet notes are well preserved.

Interestingly, 30ML offers this coffee in two variants: an espresso roast and a filter roast (Colombia Palermo Filter). For espresso, the roast has been developed a touch further so the coffee stays full and sweet in fast extractions. The filter variant is roasted lighter to accentuate the delicate floral aromas and bright flavors with slower brew methods. The result in the cup is a creamy body with a sparkling acidity, a sign that the roast has been carefully tuned to deliver both sweetness and clarity.

Colombia Palermo is a sweet and aromatic coffee. In the aroma and flavor of a freshly brewed cup, you recognize delicate floral aromas, complemented by notes of honey and molasses.

The body of this coffee is full and creamy, giving every sip a soft mouthfeel. At the same time, it offers a clear, lively acidity that keeps the taste vibrant. That combination of creaminess and freshness creates a beautiful balance in the cup. Because the coffee is naturally sweet, you can drink it throughout the day without it becoming tiresome, from a morning mug to a late afternoon cup. Add milk and the sweetness is accentuated even more. In a cappuccino or latte, the honey-like flavors come to the fore, making this coffee very suitable for fans of mild, sweet milk drinks.

The Colombia Palermo is processed with the traditional washed method (washed process). Right after picking, the coffee cherries are depulped, within 24 hours the fruit pulp is removed from the beans. Next, the beans (with the remaining sticky mucilage still attached) ferment for about 18 to 24 hours in an open fermentation tank. During fermentation, natural yeasts and bacteria break down the sugars in the mucilage, causing it to loosen from the bean. The fermented beans are then thoroughly washed with clean water to remove all pulp residues. What remains are clean coffee seeds (beans in pergamino) ready to dry.

After washing, the coffee beans are dried. In Huila this usually happens in the traditional way: the beans dry for 7 to 15 days on sunlit drying beds or patios, allowing the moisture to slowly recede. In rainy weather, mechanical dryers can also be used to guarantee an even drying result. The washed processing method is known for delivering a clean and bright cup, free from off-flavors. In the cup you therefore taste clean, clear flavors with a sweet undertone. The coffee’s fruity acids also come through nicely thanks to this method, resulting in a lively yet pure flavor profile.

This coffee is made from 100% Coffea arabica beans. It is a mix of different Arabica varieties that are typical for Colombia. In this specific lot from Huila we mainly find the varieties Castillo, Caturra and Colombia. These are common coffee varieties in Colombia, which local farmers often plant together. Each variety contributes something unique to the flavor, together they form the versatile character of the Colombia Palermo.

Castillo and Colombia are modern cultivars developed in Colombia by the national coffee institutes to address the challenges of diseases and climate. These two varieties are resistant to coffee leaf rust and highly productive, without compromising quality in the cup. That means farmers can achieve stable harvests with Castillo and Colombia and aromatic coffees, a win for both grower and coffee lover. Caturra, by contrast, is a classic variety (derived from Bourbon) known for its excellent taste and round body. Although Caturra is more susceptible to diseases, many farmers and roasters value this bean for its rich, sweet flavor profile. The combination of Castillo, Colombia and Caturra in this coffee creates a fine balance between disease resistance on the farm and complexity in the cup.

Sustainability and fairness are central to the purchasing of this coffee. 30ML sources its beans through a direct partnership with importers who value quality and good working conditions over volume. There is close contact with the farmers and payment is made for quality, which contributes to a fair income for the community. Thanks to this direct trading relationship, the supply chain is transparent, the coffee can to a certain extent be traced back to the region and farmer of origin. This gives consumers confidence that the coffee is not only delicious, but also produced responsibly.

Sustainability is also a focus in cultivation. In Huila, many farmers work with coffee shrubs recommended and developed by the Colombian coffee federation (FNC), because they are more resistant to pests and diseases. For example, the Castillo variety is such a cross that has helped for about 30 years to fend off the devastating coffee rust fungus. By planting such resistant varieties, farmers need fewer chemical pesticides, good for people and the environment. In addition, traditional coffee farmers in the region regularly renew their plantings (about every 7 years), and much work is done by hand with respect for nature. This combination of innovation and tradition ensures that coffee cultivation around Oporapa is both quality driven and future proof.

Colombia Palermo lends itself perfectly to different brewing methods. The roasters particularly recommend this coffee as a filter coffee. For example, brew it with a hand filter (V60) or in a classic filter machine, the floral aromas and sweet nuances then really come into their own. Thanks to the mild intensity (normal strength), it is a coffee that invites carefree experimentation with dosing and extraction, without the risk of bitter flavors. In a slow coffee method, the refinement and elegance of this Huila coffee are showcased best, perfect for a calm coffee moment in which the subtle flavors can truly be experienced.

Also as espresso this bean does not disappoint, albeit with a slightly different approach. The Colombia Palermo is particularly suitable for a longer espresso, such as a lungo or Americano. You then get a full cup with lots of sweetness and only gentle acidity, ideal for those who enjoy a smooth espresso. Because the coffee is naturally sweet, it remains pleasant in espresso form without sharp edges. In milk drinks, think of a cappuccino or latte, this coffee also holds its own. The honey like sweetness and creamy mouthfeel combine wonderfully with milk, giving the drink a dessert like character. Whether enjoyed black or with milk, the Colombia Palermo offers an accessible and versatile taste experience appreciated by both home baristas and professionals.

The quality of Colombia Palermo is confirmed by professional cupping scores. For example, in an assessment this coffee achieved a score of about 83.5 points on the Specialty Coffee Association’s 100-point scale. For reference, any coffee scoring above 80 points qualifies as “specialty”, this score therefore firmly places Palermo in the high-quality category. The label “Excelso”, often given to Colombian coffee (and applicable to this bag), literally means “excellent” and refers to Colombia’s export quality standard for bean size. It underscores that these are carefully graded premium coffee beans. In addition, the Huila region itself enjoys strong prestige in the coffee world: local farmers from Huila have regularly produced winning lots in the prestigious Cup of Excellence competitions. In 2013, coffee from Huila even received a Protected Designation of Origin (Denomination of Origin), comparable to Champagne in France, formally recognizing the exceptional reputation of this origin. On the 100-point scale of the Specialty Coffee Association. For reference: any coffee above 80 points is considered 'specialty' — this score therefore places the Palermo well within the high-quality category. The label 'Excelso', which is often given to Colombian coffee (and also applies to this coffee bag), literally means 'excellent' and refers to the Colombian export quality standard for bean size. This underlines that these are carefully sorted premium coffee beans. In addition, the Huila region itself enjoys great prestige in the coffee world: local farmers from Huila have regularly delivered winning lots in the prestigious Cup of Excellence competitions. In 2013 coffee from Huila even received a Protected Designation of Origin (Denomination of Origin) — comparable to Champagne in France — which officially recognizes the exceptional reputation of this origin.

The coffee is packed in a modern-designed resealable bag. On the front is the sleek 30ML Coffee Roasters logo, with the coffee name and country of origin clearly shown below. The flavour profile is also listed on the packaging — for this variant, for example, floral notes, honey and molasses. The bag is fitted with a freshness valve that allows carbon dioxide from the freshly roasted beans to escape but prevents oxygen from entering, so the aroma is preserved optimally. 30ML usually prints the roast date on the packaging, so it is clear that the coffee is freshly roasted. The design is minimalist and informative, matching the high-quality contents and pleasing for the enthusiast who wants to know what is being drunk.

Colombia Palermo is easily available through 30ML's channels. In the official 30ML webshop this coffee can be ordered in packages of 250 grams, 1 kilogram or even 3 kilograms. The price for a 250 g bag is around €13.20, with larger volumes offering a more favourable price per kilo. Orders from €50 are shipped free within the Netherlands, which is convenient when ordering multiple bags at once. The beans can also be sampled and purchased in one of the physical 30ML coffee cafés. The brand now has more than 19 locations across the Netherlands, so chances are high that there is a 30ML nearby where this Colombia Palermo can be experienced. Freshness is guaranteed, because the coffee is roasted locally and delivered directly — this way the best of this special Colombian bean comes into the home.