A Coffee Buyer’s Guide to Huila, Colombia

There are few countries more famous for their coffee than Colombia. And within Colombia, no region produces more coffee than Huila, a mountainous department lying in the southwest.

I recently attended Mejor de Huila, an auction of 30 of Huila’s best specialty coffees, run by InConexus and Royal Coffee. While there, Technical Assistance Director Pedro León agreed to talk to me about what sets Huila apart.

Interested in Colombia’s other coffee-producing regions? Check out our Roaster’s Guide to Colombian Coffee Origins

A drying patio with shade, used to ensure that beans dry evenly. Credit: Alejandra Muñoz Hernández

Huila: An Exceptional Region

According to the Colombian Coffee Grower’s Federation (FNC), in 2016 Huila produced 2.6 million 60-kilo bags, which accounted for 18% of the country’s coffee. That same year, Neiva’s Chamber of Commerce reported that there are 154,800 hectares of land dedicated to coffee in the department.

But Huila’s value isn’t just in its quantity of coffee. It also lies in its quality. It regularly produces Cup of Excellence-winning lots. What’s more, in 2013, it received Denomination of Origin status – the same status awarded to champagne, Roquefort cheese, and many other foods and beverages with unique, location-specific characteristics.

And then there’s its reputation. Many roasters, baristas, and café owners will tell you that Huila is one of their favourite coffee origins, thanks to its bright acidity, sweetness, and aromatic profile.

Any roaster, green bean buyer, or coffee lover should be familiar with Huila’s coffee. So, let me share with you some of the basic information you should know.

Cupping some of Huila’s best coffees at Mejor de Huila. Credit: Alejandra Muñoz Hernández

Huila’s Coffee Profile

Let’s start with one of the most important questions: what does coffee from Huila taste like?

Well, its Denomination of Origin status recognises it delicate profile, bright acidity, medium body, sweet notes, and a fruity, caramel aroma.

And during the four days of cupping at Mejor de Huila, I had the chance to ask many of the international attendees about their experiences. John Laird, Managing Director of AKA Coffee, told me that he tasted caramel and floral notes as well as “fragrances like toast and sweet cookies.”

Cupping coffees at Mejor de Huila. Credit: Alejandra Muñoz Hernández

Briana Dicket, a coffee buyer from the US, says, “I found beautiful citrus fruits. There is some pineapple, I’m getting some lemon. They are all very sweet, you get some nice raisin and cherry notes as well… [and] floral notes.”

But what sets Huila apart from other Colombian coffee origins? Pedro León tells me, “It has a brighter acidity and fruit notes. It is a complex coffee because it has genetic variability and [is grown in a zone with] climatic diversity.”

John Laird (left) and Geoff Watts (right) evaluating the fragrance of dry coffee at Mejor de Huila. Credit: Alejandra Muñoz Hernández

Huila’s Geography & Climate

Since coffee is, quite literally, the fruit of its terroir and climate, let’s take a look at that climatic diversity that Pedro León mentions.

Huila is framed by the Central and Eastern ranges of the Andes, with most of it sitting in the Magdalena Valley. This provides great variation in climate: according to the FNC, temperatures on farms vary from 17°C (62.5°F) to 23°C (73.5°F).  Most of these farms are between 1,200 and 1,800 m.a.s.l. They also benefit from the nitrogen-rich volcanic soil.

Learn more in A Coffee Producer’s Guide to Soil Management & Farm Conditions

A Geisha coffee cherry and its seeds, picked in Huila. Credit: Alejandra Muñoz Hernández

• Is climate change affecting Huila?

However, like all coffee-producing regions, Colombia is currently facing variations caused by climate change. “[Farms at 1300 m.a.s.l and below] are experiencing higher temperatures… and this results in high levels of coffee berry borer infestation,” says Pedro.

This has displaced some producers, although generally speaking Huila’s high altitudes means that the ones here are not affected. Pedro tells me, “Climate change and market conditions have made Colombian farmers move from the Coffee Triangle namely, Risaralda, Caldas, Antioquia and Quindío and north of Valle del Cauca – to the south of Colombia… the south of Tolima, Huila, Cauca and Nariño.”

Should we be worrying about Huila’s future? This is a hard question to answer. The good news is that the department has developed a strategy called Plan Huila 2050. It aims to improve sustainability by managing water, protecting the forests and biodiversity, developing sustainable climate practices to protect lands and their farmers, and more.

Rain strikes suddenly on a coffee farm in Huila. Credit: Alejandra Muñoz Hernández

The Coffee Regions of Huila

Although we’ve looked at the general geography and climate of Huila, there are variations across the department. After all, 35 of Huila’s 37 municipalities grow coffee. Let’s take a look at Huila’s main coffee zones and their microclimates:

• Pitalito

Lying in the south of Huila in the Magdalena Valley, where the Central and Eastern ranges of the Andes meet, Pitalito has a mild climate. In summer, it has an average temperature of 18ºC (64.5ºF) to 21ºC (70ºF). In winter, this drops to 12ºC (53.5ºF) to 14ºC (57ºF). This is where most of Huila’s coffee is produced.

Coffee roasters and importers visiting a coffee farm in Palestina, Pitalito. Credit: Alejandra Muñoz Hernández

• Garzón

As you reach the centre of Huila, you come to Garzón. Coffee farms near here have average temperatures of 22ºC (71.5ºF) to 29ºC (84ºF), warmer than in Pitalito.

• La Plata

To the west of Garzón, you’ll find this mountainous region with a slightly lower average temperature: 23ºC (73.5ºF).

• Neiva

Named for the region’s capital, this northern region has a warm, dry climate with an average temperature of 27ºC (80.5ºF)

The view from one of Huila’s mountainous coffee farms. Credit: Alejandra Muñoz Hernández

Production & Processing

According to the FNC, Huila is dominated by small producers: the average farm size is just 1.5 hectares. Yet Pedro tells me that most of them have their own wet mill. With such small crops, he emphasises that they need to focus on quality rather than volume. “This is what makes the coffee profiles so distinctive,” he explains.

Coffee producers on Finca Filadelfia in San Augustín, Huila. Credit: Alejandra Muñoz Hernández

Mr Andres Ruiz owns a three-hectare farm where he has been producing specialty coffee since 2008. He tells me that, over the past decade, he has made several changes to improve the quality of his crop. In doing so, he’s increased his income. This year, his coffee was cupped at 85.99 in Mejor de Huila, before being bought by Royal Coffee.

“Before I [fermented] for 26 hours. Now I do it for 36 hours,” he says. “The advice that [InConexus] gave me was to ferment the coffee longer in order to improve the physical characteristics and [ quality] of the bean in the cup.”

Coffee producer Andres Ruiz. Credit: Alejandra Muñoz Hernández

While most of the coffee in Huila is washed processed, Pedro tells me that there’s great potential for honey processing in the region.

What’s more, he explains that most of the farms in the south of Huila grow their coffee either under shade or partial shade.

Coffee cherries ripen under partial shade. Credit: Alejandra Muñoz Hernández

Coffee Varieties in Huila

With around 154,800 hectares of coffee, you can expect to find a lot of varieties in Colombia. This includes Caturra, Typica, Castillo, Bourbon, Colombia, Maragogype, Tabi, and even Geisha.

Learn more about varieties in Geisha vs Bourbon: A Crash Course in Coffee Varieties

When visiting Ms Leonor Mosquera, the winner of the Mejor de Huila auction, on her farm Finca Buena Vista, we were shown Geisha, red Bourbon, pink Bourbon, yellow Colombia, and more.

A crop of pink Bourbon on Finca Buena Vista. Credit: Alejandra Muñoz Hernández

This region of Colombia isn’t just special because it’s the country’s largest producing region. Its climate, terroir, and – perhaps most importantly – producers’ hard work and focus on quality make it an origin worth knowing.

Whether you’re a roaster, green bean trader, or simply a passionate coffee-drinker, Huila has much to offer.

Enjoyed this? Discover the rest of Colombia in our Roaster’s Guide to Colombian Coffee Origins

Written by Alejandra Muñoz Hernández. All interviews conducted in Spanish and translated by the author.

To cup these coffees or attend future auctions, please contact InConexus.

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