Beverage
Colombia
C tier
Colombia (often called Variedad Colombia) is a composite Coffea arabica cultivar released by Cenicafé from Caturra × Timor Hybrid progenies selected for coffee leaf rust resistance and productivity. It was among the first nationally scaled rust-resistant varieties in Colombia and reshaped commercial plantings after rust became a standing threat. Cup quality is generally acceptable for washed Colombian profiles—sweet, balanced, medium body—though later Castillo selections were preferred for yield and organoleptic consistency. Colombia remains historically important and still appears in some lots and older plantings.
Also known as: Variedad Colombia, Colombia (cultivar, not origin grade)
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Characteristics
Preparations
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Grading systems
Grades are placed along a shared scale so systems can be compared side by side.
History
Cenicafé intensified breeding using Timor Hybrid to introduce durable rust resistance into Colombian arabica.
Multi-generation selection of Caturra × Timor Hybrid families produced candidate composite lines.
Variedad Colombia was officially released as a rust-resistant, high-yielding national cultivar.
Farmers began large-scale replanting of susceptible Caturra and Bourbon with Colombia.
Castillo was released as an improved alternative, gradually reducing Colombia’s share of new plantings.
Residual Colombia plantings continued to supply commercial washed coffees alongside Castillo.