This may be stating the obvious, with my logo and all, but Iâm a huge coffee drinker. I canât get through my day without at least a few cups. In fact, Iâm having my third right now.
My caffeine of choice is Colombian coffee, so naturally I was ecstatic when NescafĂ© Tasterâs Choice invited me to Colombia to meet the people that make my daily ritual possible. It was my first time visiting South America, but certainly not my last.
Los Angeles to QuindĂo, Colombia
After a missed connection in BogotĂĄ, I finally made it the hotel: Allure CafĂ© Mocawa Resort, by Karismaâlocated in the heart of Colombia’s coffee region. This is where our group rested our heads at night after 2 long days exploring the beautiful countryside. Not a bad place to end your day.
Panoramic Jeep Tour of Colombia
Day 1 started with a hearty breakfast and loads of NescafĂ© Taster’s Choice before our group left Allure CafĂ© Mocawa for the day on a panoramic jeep tour. Just a tip for those interested in doing one of these; make sure you pack layers. When we left it was hot, but as soon as we were out of the city area and started to climb, the weather changed dramatically and instantly regretted not wearing warmer clothes.
Here are a few of my favorite shots taken while on the tour:
Lunch in Filandia, Colombia
This Filandia restaurant deserved its own section. Out of all the places we ate in Colombia, which were a lot, I think the entire group would agree Helena Adentro stole our hearts. We were treated to what felt like a never-ending conveyor of deliciously, fresh tapas.
“We work with producers and local ingredients to create a menu to share.”
â Alejandro, Chef and Owner Helena Adentro
After devouring our shared lunch, we were treated to a coffee presentation and some tasty desserts. Though not pictured (probably because it was gobbled up too fast), the cheesecake was to die for.
My only regret? Not trying their cocktails.
The NESCAFĂ Plan
You don’t become the world’s leading coffee brand over night. It takes years of building both brand loyalty and the trust of your workers, in this case the farmers they’ve partnered with through The NescafĂ© Plan.
Through this global initiative (not just in Colombia), Nescafé has committed to the future of coffee by providing their farmers with education in sustainable farming practices, continuous training on new techniques to wield the best crops, and the distribution of coffee plantlets.
Read also: 5 Fast Facts About NescafĂ© Taster’s Choice
Meeting the Coffee Farmers
Day 2 was when we got to get our hands dirty… literally. This was where we got the behind the scenes look at what exactly The NescafĂ© Plan entailed. Getting to meet the coffee growers themselves was eye-opening.
The amount of pride the farmers have for producing the coffee we drink every day is infectious. It was truly an honor to hear their stories and how The Nescafé Plan helped them with their entrepreneurial goals.
One of the most memorable experiences was being able to plant my very own coffee tree. I like to think that one day I’ll be sipping a hot cup of coffee, made from coffee cherries picked from my tree.
Hey, it could happen!
A huge thanks to NescafĂ© Taster’s Choice for inviting me on this trip. You made my first trip to South America one I’ll never forget. Excited to go back and experience more of what Colombia has to offer.
If youâre interested in learning more about my trip to Colombia with NescafĂ© Tasterâs Choice, I highly recommend checking out the video my friend, Krista Simmons created of our time there. She captured some awesome aerial shots over the coffee farms with a drone that are definitely worth checking out.
