Colombia Finally Officially Declares Coffee As National Beverage – CoffeeTalk

Colombia’s Congress has officially declared coffee as the country’s national beverage, marking a significant milestone in the country’s coffee industry. The announcement came as the National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC) celebrated its 98th anniversary and the country observed its annual National Coffee Day. Germán Bahamón, general manager of the FNC, said the new law honors the emblematic bean and represents support for over half a million coffee-farming families. The designation is expected to encourage greater domestic consumption and highlight the importance of quality and sustainability in the industry.

Currently, Colombians consume about 2.5 kilograms of coffee per person each year, amounting to 2.2 million 60-kilogram bags. With the new law in place, growers and industry leaders hope that the figure will continue to rise, driven by emerging ways to enjoy coffee, such as ready-to-drink cans, energy drinks, cold brews, drips, liqueurs, and gatherings like coffee parties that foster community around the drink.

Colombia’s coffee sector is experiencing steady growth, with 557,000 families cultivating coffee across more than 838,000 hectares of plantations. The total coffee farm area exceeds 2.8 million hectares nationwide, and Colombia produced 11.3 million bags of coffee in 2023. The country’s coffee farmers are modernizing and renewing crops, with 90% of planted areas now using rust-resistant varieties to maintain productivity and quality despite environmental threats. Colombian coffee exports remain strong, with 12.3 million bags shipped abroad so far in 2024.

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