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Holidays offer an unrivaled opportunity to experience new places, immerse in fascinating foreign cultures and make unforgettable memories. Whilst these memories are undoubtedly the best thing a holiday abroad has to offer, a small memento as a reminder of your time can be just as special. Whether sentimental or practical, bringing home a souvenir can be the cherry on top of a brilliant trip away. Colombia has special offerings for any coffee enthusiast, and any trip there isn’t complete if you return home empty-handed.
Colombia is synonymous with great quality coffee, and for good reason. The South American nation is home to some of the most fertile lands for growing the beans, leading to plentiful harvests of very high-quality coffee. There has been a newfound appreciation for Colombian coffee in recent times, and the country is a must-visit destination for all coffee aficionados. If Colombia is at the top of your travel list, there are plenty of purchases that help to encapsulate the spirit of the country. Coffee addicts and casual enjoyers alike can enjoy what’s listed below.
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Specialty Coffee
We’ve all seen brands of Colombian coffee stacked on the shelves at our local supermarket, and, for many, it’s some of the best available. However, a visit to Colombia itself will offer you unmatched variety, with an abundance of authentic coffee brands not available elsewhere. Local cafés such Amor Perfecto and Azahar provide the chance to try fresh coffee bursting with local flavor. Not only do these offer a great in-person experience, but you will also be able to take the taste of Colombia back home by buying a bag of their expert coffee for yourself.
For those who prioritize freshness above everything, there are plenty of coffee farms to be visited. With newly harvested beans, these offer the chance to try an unadulterated cup of the freshest coffee. As well as providing a fascinating and authentic insight into the harvesting process of your favorite drink, these tours also provide a great opportunity to take some of the highest quality beans available back home.
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A Completely Sustainable Coffee Shop
Those who are truly concerned with their footprint on nature and being eco-friendly can often struggle with the simplest pleasures of life. Sometimes, going out for dinner or coffee can be a stressful affair if you know that the restaurant does not ethically source its meat nor do they try to recycle where possible. For many, these situations may be all too familiar. If that’s you or you are looking to associate yourself with companies that are more environmentally friendly, consider seeking establishments that try to minimize their impact on the environment. The coffee industry has been rapidly growing over the last years across the world, spurred on by strong coffee culture. This has also shone the spotlight on the waste created by this industry. From coffee waste to milk waste, wastage in cafes is a pressing issue. This is what forced Douglas McMaster, the owner of Silo to develop a restaurant focused on zero waste and sustainability, all within an urban environment.
Silo is a cafe located in Brighton, UK and it uses a variety of environmental conservation efforts when operating. For instance, coffee and produce arrive at the cafe with no packaging, thus reducing the use of plastic. In addition, all coffee beans are locally sourced and delivered in reusable crates. McMaster initially worked in Melbourne where he opened a small pop-up store. This experience taught him about waste and convinced him to move away from industrial practices and to focus on zero waste. Guests at the coffee shop were served coffee in glass jars, eliminating non-reusable plastic cups. All excess food at Silo is also thrown into a compost machine and turned into fertilizer. This is then shared with local farmers. The entire concept is well thought of, from the start of the coffee process to the end. If you find yourself in the seaside city, drop-in.
