Colombia Organic Pitalito Asobombo Excelso EP 2024

ASOBOMBO Association

ASOBOMBO is powered by 170 young producers who are collectively betting on success through a generational shift in coffee production. Based in the south of the Huila Province, these producers are committed to carrying on a long legacy of coffee farming and preserving the customs they inherited from their ancestors. At the same time, they’re working hard to bring positive change to how they do things, empowered by modern agricultural guidance to improve cultivation and processing on their farms. Nearly half of the members are independent women, and the entire association is headed by a team of five.

The fertile lands of the ASOBOMBO members are nourished by the Magdalena River and the Cascada Salto de Bordones waterfall. Altitudes range from 1600 to 2000masl, located around one hour from Pitalito.

Excelso Coffee

In Colombian coffee, the term “Excelso” refers to the grade of coffee. Excelso is not associated with a specific variety of coffee or a cup profile; instead, it refers to the size of the coffee bean. Excelso coffee beans are large – generally screen size 15-16. Supremo grade beans are larger, boasting a screen size of 17-18.

Huila Region Coffee

Out of all the Colombia coffee producing regions, the south is most celebrated for high quality and high-altitude coffee beans. Located closer to the equator, the south includes popular coffee regions like Huila, Nariño, and Cauca. Coffee thrives on the slopes of the Andes Mountains, nurtured by rich volcanic soil, and results in cup profiles that include sweet acidity and intense aromas.

Colombian Coffee History

Coffee arrived in Colombia through Jesuit priests in the late 18th century, but it wasn’t until the 19th century that it became a significant industry, with the first exports recorded in 1808. The industry found its footing in 1927 with the creation of the National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC), which worked to elevate the reputation of Colombian coffee. In 1958, the FNC launched the iconic “Juan Valdez” campaign, establishing Colombian coffee as a unique, high-quality product in global markets. The FNC also introduced a national coffee fund, channeling resources into research, technical support, and varietal improvements to support the industry’s growth. Read more in our Colombian Coffee Origin Report