Coffee Tour Medellin: Where to Find the Best Coffee in Medellin

Coffee and Colombia go hand-in-hand, and a coffee farm tour is the perfect way to learn about Medellin coffee. Many people backpacking Colombia wait until visiting the Coffee Region for a coffee farm tour, but it isn’t necessary—I recommend doing a Medellin coffee tour.

The Best Coffee Medellin Tour was one of three I did with Toucan Cafe & Tours, which supports small independent local businesses in the Antioquia region. While they no longer run tours, there are many other great Medellin coffee tours.

Keep reading to learn how taking a “Best Coffee in Medellin Tour” can enact social change and how to support without stepping foot in Colombia.

Need a Colombia backpacking itinerary? Click here to read mine.

Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet?

The Insurance companies I recommend are Hey Mondo and Safety Wing

Hey Mondo is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single-trip cover, annual multi-trip cover, and long-term travel cover. Safety Wing is great value, with monthly coverage starting at $45.08. It’s super easy to use, and it just renews each month. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy.

Read my full travel insurance post here, where I go into detail about all companies. 

Are You Searching for the Best Coffee Medellin Offers?

I’ve been a lifelong coffee lover, but my trip to Colombia and coffee farm tour in Medellin took my coffee obsession to the next level. I tasted a lot of coffee in Bogota and learned to brew the perfect cup. I was taught what’s required to make my favorite hot beverage on a small, family-run coffee farm in Medellin. I sampled some of the best coffee in Medellin and my life there!

Quick Tip: Book accommodation, tours, and transport ahead of time online to save money and stress. 
Best Medellin Tours: Click here to check out the top Medellin tours
Best Medellin Accommodation: Click here to check out the best accommodation in Medellin
Best Medellin Transport: Click here to book a bus, ferry, or train in Medellin

Coffee Tour Medellin: Background Information

During my time in Colombia, I learned much about its politics and history. Without going into a full-blown lecture (I’m saving that for another post), here’s some background information you need to put things into context.

Colombia is the home of Magical Realism for good reason! For many, the first word that comes to mind when thinking of Colombia is “drugs.”

Having spent time in this beautiful country, I have seen and heard firsthand accounts of its troubled past and how Colombians are trying to build a better future. Decades of civil war caused around seven million people to be displaced, many of whom fled the war-torn cities for a new, more peaceful life in rural areas.

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While groups like FARC have disarmed and don’t force farmers to grow chocolate or coffee beans anymore, many farmers struggle to make a profit. Farmers who can’t live off their income may be tempted to grow illegal goods for money. When you buy good quality “Fair Trade” coffee or take a coffee farm tour with an independent company, you are directly helping that farmer and their family earn an honest living.

Why Take a Coffee Tour Medellin

Colombia ranks third among the world’s top coffee exporters and is famous for having some of the best coffee in the world. The country exports an annual average of 11.5 million coffee bags. If you are visiting a country with good, quality coffee, I consider it a crime not to take a coffee farm tour! It would be like visiting France without doing a wine tour.

Most people tour Colombia’s Coffee Region, and Salento is the most popular destination. However, there are coffee farms nationwide, so you can find a tour in most departments.

Here is a great Colombia Coffee Region Guide to help you plan a visit.

These tours educate participants on the coffee-making process and life in rural Colombia. Learning about the social and political issues farmers have faced was just as, if not more, interesting than the actual coffee.

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My Coffee Tour Medellin Experience

I didn’t have time to visit the Coffee Region during my last trip to Colombia, so I opted for a “Best Coffee Medellin” option. Toucan organized the coffee farm tour and took us to Cafe de la Cima Coffee Farm in Antioquia’s La Toscana Fredonia area, about 1.5 hours outside Medellin. Once we reached the village, we were switched to a 4×4 vehicle to access the farm.

This Medellin coffee tour takes you to an authentic working farm that a family runs—it’s not an overpriced tourist attraction with a fancy gift shop and air conditioning. The family who owns and operates the farm is incredible, and their passion for coffee shows in their delicious beans.

After a delicious breakfast and several cups of coffee, it was time to learn about the coffee process.

Next is a tour of the fields—wear suitable footwear for walking in the mountains. Remember that rain is likely since you are in a cloud forest, so pack your waterproof jacket!

After touring the fields and learning how the beans are grown, we had the opportunity to hand-pick them.

The tour was an eye-opener—I never knew how much work goes into every sip of coffee. I will never again drink a cup without giving a silent salute to coffee pickers!

Once we picked a feeble number of coffee beans, it was time to transport them for processing. Traditionally, the beans are carried by mules—this family created a handy water shoot. You pour the coffee beans in, turn on the water, and they go down the shoot to the farm. So cool!

The coffee beans were waiting for us when we got back. From here, the coffee is washed and goes through a water channel—any beans that float are considered defective and separated from the rest. This “poor quality” bean is used for instant coffee, while the other beans are dried to remove skin.

Finally, it’s time for the beans to be roasted and ground up!

I’ve done several coffee tours before in Colombia and Guatemala, and this tour wins hands down! The other tours felt rushed—we briefly learned about coffee production and tried a cup of coffee, but none went into much detail.

At the end of the Medellin coffee tour, we got to sample some cups of coffee. We were taught how the beans are scored and how to properly taste the coffee rather than chugging it down.

Watch this short video to see the coffee-making process!

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Quick Tip: View my full Colombia packing guide here including a downloadable checklist. And check out my Colombia Essentials shopping list here.

Alternative Medellin Coffee Tour Options

Here are some coffee farm tour alternatives to the Toucan one, which is sadly no longer available. They all have good reviews, but I urge you to research and find the perfect tour for your preferences and interests.

Coffee Tour and Lunch in Medellin

Most Complete Coffee Tour in Medellín: From the Seed to the Cup in Just Half Day

EXPERIENCES COLOMBIA (Coffee Tour)

How to Choose Good Colombian Coffee

There are many things to consider when shopping for the best coffee in Medellin.

Roast: Lightly roasted beans are usually sour, while medium-roasted beans taste acidic. Dark roasted beans are less acidic and have a nuttier flavor.

Altitude: The altitude at which the coffee beans are grown significantly impacts the taste. The higher the altitude, the more acidic and complex the flavor. If you prefer a more alkaline taste, stick to coffee grown at lower elevations. Generally, the higher the elevation, the better the quality—look for coffee beans grown at 1800 meters or above.

Area/Blend/Region: A blend is often of lower quality since it contains a mix of beans from several regions. A coffee from a specific region could be a blend of beans from different farms at varying altitudes. The best option is to buy coffee from one particular roastery or farm.

Thoughts on Instant Coffee

Sorry, not sorry, but I think instant coffee is awful. Yes, I know, I’m a coffee snob. However, instant coffee is made with defective, flavorless beans. I beg you to throw away the Nescafe and buy an Aeropress! I may be a backpacker, but I never travel without mine.

Why Fair Trade Coffee is Important

You may think the cup of coffee you are drinking is insignificant, but that isn’t true. I hope this article has shown you that purchasing Fair Trade coffee supports hard-working farmers, regardless of where you are.

If you travel or live in coffee-producing countries like me, I urge you to shop locally. Don’t buy coffee from a grocery store—buy it from a local market, farm, or an independent coffee shop.

Medellin Travel Guide Planning

🧳 Any recommendations on what I should pack for Medellin?

Yes! I have created a whole packing guide to Medellin which you can read here and you can also check out my packing list for Medellin on Amazon here.

🚗 Where can I book bus or private transportation while I’m in Medellin?

I strongly recommend using GottoGo. You can book almost all transport in the major tourist destinations through them online. They don’t just cover buses they also cover shuttles, ferries, and private drivers.

🎫 Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours in Medellin?

I recommend either Viator or GetYour Guide. They have a lot of options!

👩‍⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?

I recommend using Heymondo for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat. For Digital Nomads check out SafetyWing digital nomad insurance.

I have also written a blog post covering all my recommended travel insurance here

✈️ Any flight recommendations?

WayAWay offers you cheap flights with cashback. You can use this code CLAIRE22 to get 10% off. Otherwise Skyscanner or Expedia are my go-to flight searching platforms.

📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?

I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I wrote a full review of the top travel WiFi devices you can read here. I personally use GlocalMe as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.

With regards to my phone connection, I use e-sims while traveling, so rather than having to swap out my regular sim card I can download the app and buy a virtual sim card. I recommend using eitherAirhub or Alosim. Both have great coverage of multiple countries and are very easy to use.

🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?

The 3 best platforms that I normally use are Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals.

🛅 Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?

I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list here. I’m currently traveling with this suitcase and this backpack. 

Coffee Tour Medellin: Final Thoughts

If you’re considering a Medellin coffee tour, do it! Not only do you support local farmers by embarking on a coffee farm tour, but you also learn interesting facts about coffee-making and Colombian culture. Plus, you get to taste some of the best coffee Medellin offers. Those outside of Colombia can also support small farms by purchasing Fair Trade coffee beans. Now, you’re a coffee aficionado and social justice warrior!!

Wondering where to stay in Medellin? I recommend staying in either El Poblado or Laureles, and here are a few of my favorite places to stay:

Parceros Med Hostel (I stayed here for a month and loved it!)
Los Patios Hostel Boutique
Purple Monkey Hostel
Hostal Medellin -Laureles
El Jardín de la 10 – El Poblado

You can also read my full Where to Stay in Medellin Guide here.

This post was proofread by Grammarly.