The best Coffe of the Caribbean and the Americas
Coffee around the world shows different varieties, but there are a number of common factors that influence on its production: altitude where coffee grows and is cultivated, the climate, as well as humidity, the temperature during the growing season and its impact on the cultivation . Many varieties of coffee are found in the world, different ways of presentation are available to show a wide range of flavors and properties, acidity, body and different roast degrees from the most to the least roast. Thus a guide on this item is shown below focusing on South America, Central America and the Caribbean.
CUBA Turkino or Turquino Extra is regarded as the best Cuban coffee, it is thus described for its classification and category. This variety is developed at a lower altitude and has inferior acidity but enough body. Arabica variety has a distinct characteristic is softer with good aroma and especially because the concentration of caffeine is lower, this is the variety that predominates in Cuba. The selected beans of this variety are famous in the entire world.
Jamáica A cold climate, steady rainfalls, humid and fertile soils and tall mountains turn Jamaica into a perfect country for the coffee cultivation. One of the most famous varieties in the world is that of Blue Mountain which grows in the region of the blue mountains, whose altitude is the best for this crop. Blue Mountain coffee is regarded as one of the best in the world, the finest and most complete and the most expensive too. Interesting Anecdotes: a) The first coffee sherries came from Martinique. b) It is the only variety that is sold around the year. c) The main consumers of Jamaican coffee are the Japanese.
Guadeloupe There was a time when this Caribbean archipelago became an important coffee grower and one of the best in the area. Nowadays, this coffee is considered one of high class production.
Martinique It was the place of origin of all the American coffee. Today a small amount of coffee grows there.
Colombia For the special care with which this coffee is produced and for its great promotion, this country has achieved one of the few coffees of origin in the world that is sold in the whole world just using the name "café colombiano”. This is the myth by which it is regarded "the king of the soft coffees," because of its aroma, soft and fine fruit-like flavor. Colombia is the second coffee producer of the world after Brazil, is also the largest world exporting country of arabica coffee and washed beans. The production enjoys a wide range of microclimates, this helps that every coffee bean ripens in different stages and thus harvesting lasts almost all year round. Interesting anecdotes: a) A priest introduced in Colombia a coffee sherry coming from the French Antilles. b) The significance of Colombian coffee is such that all vehicles setting out for the coffee plantation areas are fumigated to prevent the propagation of pests.
Brazil Main producer and world exporting country, mostly produces soft coffee with a bean cultivated at sea level. In Brazil, coffee is cultivated in 17 of its 21 states, but only those states of Parana, Sao Paulo, Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais control 98% of the overall local production. Due to the large territory of Brazil, there are some differences; however, its coffees have a neutral taste, medium roast, not bitter. Some of the varieties are: Santos from Sao Paulo, regarded as the best for being soft and not bitter; the other is Cerrado, a soft coffee of top quality. Interesting anecdotes: a) The first coffee sherry came from French Guiana. b) All kinds of Brazilian coffees should be consumed in their early stage because if not, over the years, their acidity will be higher.
Puerto Rico Its cultivation areas are found in the mountains, offering tow of the best varieties of the world: Yauco Selecto, a coffee with a distinct taste and intense aroma and Gran Lares, a top-quality coffee. Also other species excel in quality which have grown for twenty years such as: Puerto Rico Selecta, Caturra, C. Robusta, C. Excelsa, Burbsn and Pacas which despite the time elapsed, continue adapting perfectly well to the Puerto Rican climate and temperature. Fertile soils and tropical climates make Puerto Rican coffee gets body, a nice fragrant and abundant aroma, all these factors have given rise to a splendid result. Interesting anecdotes a) Coffee sherry arrived to Puerto Rico from Martinique. b) International tasters from the Federation analyze a bag, out of fifty.
MEXICO This country grows the so-called giant bean, whose specie has as an official name that of Maragogype and very much regarded for its stable aroma and soft taste. Chiapas is considered as the best coffee producing area. Interesting anecdotes: At the end of the 18th century, the French habit of consuming coffee with milk and sugar was introduced in Mexico for the first time.
Costa Rica The volcanic, humid and fertile soil of this country turned it into the first Central American country that used coffee cultivation as a way to develop an industry with a future. On the south of the Central Valley of Costa Rica, Tarrazú region, whose growing areas reached an altitude of 1,650 meters. This region is regarded as on e of the areas where one of the best and richest coffee varieties are grown for their light flavor and magnificent fragrance, despite the limited amount harvested; it is there where the characteristic blue beans are found which gives as a result, a cup of coffee with great body and aroma. Only arabica coffee grows there and that of the best quality is labeled with the initials SHB (Strictly Hard Bean), this means that is grown at 1,500 m high.
Guatemala Guatemala is other of the main countries in coffee production. The coffee cultivated at the slopes of the Sierra Madre volcanic mountains are found in different altitudes in terrace-steps like in Costa Rica. Those with the label of SHB grow at the highest altitude, 1,700 meters and are the best regarded. The irregularities of volcanic eruptions, the abundant sunlight and frequent rainfalls are qualities that characterizes Antigua's coffee region as the most outstanding where El Pucal variety is found, an excellent coffee for its quality, smoky and complex taste. The other types of coffee produced in Guatemala are washed arabigos.
Interesting anecdotes: Admired by the natural beauty of the plant, some Jesuits introduced the coffee sherry for the first time and what is interesting is that they used the plant as a decorative element inside the monasteries.