Colombia Supremo Santander

About Colombia Supremo Santander

Arrived September 2026 in grainpro lined bags, unusual for Supremo but real added value. This coffee is a direct import and is a Roastmasters exclusive.

This coffee was purchased directly from Colombia. We were offered a number of regional lots that were representative of local producers. Our top pick from the regional offerings was from Santander.

Santader is an historically significant growing area in Colombia and believed to be the region where the coffee industry began in the country. The Department, aka State, is located in the country's northeast, on the eastern side of the Andes. Many of the farms reach 1,950 meters and because of their locations closer to the equator, there is heavy reliance on shade growing in order to slow development of coffee trees and concentrate flavor. It also provides diversity to the landscape and aviary protection. There is a single annual crop here. 

Coffee from Santander is ideal for those who enjoy deep, chocolatey, and nutty tones. Aromas are complex and toward sweet, nutty, and generally comforting. But, there is considerable brightness to be had in this coffee as well, so it can stand up to dark roasting if that is your preference. 

We selected this regional coffee for its flavors, then had it sorted by size to separate only the largest beans. Supremo beans are technically with 90% or more  over screen 17. Supremo is a grade based on both size and number of defects.  The bean size is screen 17 and up where Excelso grade is bewteen screens 14 and 16.5.  Screen size alone should not be an indicator of cup quality as many fine coffees from Colombia are grown at such elevations that larger bean sizes are not feasible.  Coffee at the highest elevation grows more slowly and is typically smaller.  That said, Supremo is a broad indicator of plant nutrition. 

Santander has its own Cooperative that has over 6,300 producers and it is coordinated with the Colombia Coffee Federation (FNC). Supremo beans, merged from numerous area smallholders, can be simple, clean and versatile. Use them for single origin, blend components to add brightness with mild body, and, dark roasts. They are dense, durable and large. This is an excellent value, we were able to purchase at a favorable moment in the market.

Cup Characteristics: Aromas of cocoa. Bright, sweet and clean coffee. Flavors of stone fruit, notably peach. Excellent acidity and brightness. Transparent notes of grapefruit and apricot. 

Roasting Notes: Durable, high grown coffee capable of roasts between City Plus (C+) and dark roasts past second crack, and steps in between. The beans are large and dense, having enough acidity to hold up to dark roasting while still being flavorful. If you roast on a Behmor we suggest profile P2 for this coffee. We felt this profile offered the best combination of body and acidity. P3 was also quite decent.