Colombia is an interesting destination for coffee lovers.
Just because Colombia is the third largest producer of coffee in the world doesn't mean you can easily find a great cup of joe there.
Similarly to the great cacao produced in Ecuador, in the recent past pretty much all of the great coffee produced in Colombia has been exported to other countries.
That left Colombia with low-quality beans and people who didn't necessarily know how to roast and brew coffee.
Luckily, over the past few years, specialty coffee shops focused on local brews have popped up all over the place and coffee farms have started opening their doors to visitors.
It's now possible to see first hand how coffee is grown and processed, and even taste some coffee brewed from the high-quality beans that farmers are starting to keep behind to sell to tourists.
Perhaps the most beautiful place to start your exploration of the Colombian coffee region is Salento. With several coffee farms within walking distance of town, well-preserved and brightly colored architecture, and the Cocora Valley with the world's tallest palm trees nearby, Salento makes a great place to spend a few days.
We toured three fincas during our time there, each having their own unique philosophies on growing coffee and each providing different and insightful information on this revered plant.
