Medellin Coffee Farm Tour Review: Is it Worth it?
Alright, planning a trip to Medellin and wondering if a coffee farm visit is, you know, actually worth your time? It’s almost a rite of passage when you come to this area of Colombia, and let me tell you, with potentially dozens of coffee farms around, it can feel rather tricky choosing the best one. In this review, so I will go over one such experience to kinda, perhaps, give you, very much like your own, insights and pointers for getting the most out of this trip. I hope that this guide helps!
Picking Your Perfect Plantation: What to Look For
So, first off, not all coffee farms are created equal, too it’s something to think about. Location wise, very many farms are further away, nestled in the hills surrounding Medellin. Now, arguably this distance may have an impact when selecting your tour, right? If you find getting out early challenging, so then perhaps look at somewhere more near. Another really important factor is what, really, do you wanna get out of the tour? Very some farms have rather extensive tours which go over every stage, from planting, growing to harvesting the beans and brewing them into your cup of joe. By the way, alternatively, a few focus solely on the roasting and tasting procedure. That being said, too there’s the, kind of, organic question, that is, if sustainable farming practices are near to you, well, arguably, do your research!
Also, I would suggest checking out a bunch of reviews and asking fellow travelers about their experiences. Word-of-mouth can be helpful! Think about what’s important for your coffee experience: education, incredible views, or potentially the yummiest cup. Thinking this through is, like, very much a first step, by the way!
My Day at a Finca: A Firsthand Experience
Anyway, for my own trip, I decided on a smaller, family-run finca about an hour and a half from Medellin. As a matter of fact the drive alone was worth it; just try to imagine these bright green mountainsides, and small houses speckled all the way across them! You may want to consider getting someone else to drive though! We were greeted so warmly upon arrival and welcomed with a beverage – in short, a cup of their awesome coffee. Like your typical tourist, naturally, I am also that guy!
Very the tour got underway and my coffee knowledge grew! And like, well I thought I knew heaps about coffee previously; however, as I was saying, I knew nothing! I did have to be mindful that, usually, most tours here are in Spanish. So if you happen to speak English like me, I mean I really recommend booking a tour which has English speaking guides. Arguably it made the whole thing a bit more fun.
Instead, now let’s talk about this process a bit; after they had harvested all their beans they ferment them, dry them, and sort them out, then roast ’em all on site, very typically in small batches. The aromas? Actually, like, it’s almost magical!
Coffee Tasting: From Bean to Cup
And arguably now, after this tour part, my fave – it’s a chance to try a variety of coffees! Of course the tour was great too! Yet, like, that first sip, after having actually learned all about it, was almost unreal. Typically we got taught how you should actually properly taste coffee, looking at everything, like, from its body to its acidity. Also the different roasting levels led, well, to very subtle flavor variations. Just, to put it differently, I will never view my morning cup of coffee the exact way again.
Ordinarily, there are many farms that give, that is, free coffee tastings included within the cost of your tour. But you might, perhaps, consider buying some beans directly at the farm to help all those local farmers, in a way!
More Than Just Coffee: Added Bonuses
Often a Medellin coffee farm, that is, it’s not solely about the coffee. Arguably the landscapes may also add greatly to the enjoyment of the experience. On the other hand many farms often showcase all this stunning Antioquian scenery, like your amazing photo opportunities. Arguably very many provide different activities too, like nature walks, maybe even, say, horse riding.
Arguably what stood out during this trip were the hosts – warm, that is, who had a real eagerness to share all that passion they feel. Very learning of all that work going into a cup, plus that interaction with such hard-working people, may, for example, add such another, perhaps better dimension to my appreciation of coffee.
The whole cultural thing I had experienced has become an interesting dimension to traveling to Medellin.
Is the Coffee Farm Tour Worth Your Time?
You are, actually, almost certainly reading all this as you wanna find the, kinda, most ideal ways of investing some hours when vacationing. First thing, based on my personal views and experiences, just know that the Medellin coffee farm experience, naturally, it’s well recommended. So if, naturally, you might even have a passing curiosity about coffee or local culture, that is, you should consider investing the time and funds. Even better, by the way! In fact, there’s nothing quite being, for instance, close to the natural beauty, like your Colombian landscape is like. I was also saying that it might just really transform the relationship which you currently have with this common hot drink!
- Learn about the whole entire bean-to-cup process
- The views will blow you totally away!
- Learn some Colombian culture and give them your support
So go on then, give a local Coffee farm a go on your next trip!
