Imagine starting your day with a cup of coffee—not just any coffee, but one that tells a story, evokes distant landscapes, and transports you to lands where coffee is more than a beverage: it is tradition, identity, and pride. At Cuatro Vientos Specialty Origins, we are passionate explorers seeking to understand and share knowledge about coffee with everyone around us.
When the first rays of sunlight touch the mountains of Huila, Colombia, more than 13,000 kilometers away, the afternoon begins to fall over Ethiopia’s highlands, while Kenya experiences its own daytime rhythm. These three countries, separated by oceans and continents, are united by a single element that has transformed cultures, economies, and palates: coffee.
As exporters of specialty coffee from Huila, we understand that every bean tells a story of land, tradition, and trade. That’s why, when our CEO, Yonatan González, embarked on a journey to the ancestral coffee lands of Africa in 2025, we knew he wanted to understand the roots of a global system that, while driven by a shared passion for coffee, operates under vastly different rules and traditions.
Today we'll take you on a tour through these three coffee-producing countries, revealing what we think makes them so different.
Kenyan Coffee, an Auction of Flavors and Opportunities
In Kenya, coffee moves in a system that many find as exotic as its landscapes. The Nairobi Coffee Exchange is the epicenter of Kenyan coffee marketing, where each week coffee lots are auctioned with a system that always guarantees a buyer. Here, lots are blind-cupped, meaning exporters bid solely based on the coffee's quality, without knowing its exact origin.
What Makes Kenyan Coffee Unique?
- Auction system: Guarantees sales but limits the creation of long-term relationships.
- Consistent quality: Even coffees that don't reach the top places at auction are still exceptional.
One of its advantages lies in the possibility of direct, long-term client relationships outside of the stock exchange, similar to what we do in Colombia.
At Cuatro Vientos, we had the opportunity to observe the process that takes place after these auctions and discover how true gems get competitive prices.
Coffee plantation in Kenya, Africa
Ethiopia, the Ancestral Origin of Coffee
To speak of coffee without mentioning Ethiopia would be like talking about wine without mentioning France. Ethiopia is coffee's place of origin, a land where tradition and government regulation blend in a complex market. Unlike Kenya and Colombia, in Ethiopia the government regulates exports and establishes base prices according to coffee quality.
Advantages and Challenges of Ethiopian Coffee
- Government regulation: While it guarantees certain standards, it also imposes barriers that can limit the potential of coffee growers.
- Limited opportunities: If a high-quality coffee doesn't find a buyer, it will end up downgrading until it is able to sell at a regulated lower price, which hinders free trade.
Price barriers and restrictions can work for or against coffee growers, affecting the free trade of Ethiopian origin coffee.
At Cuatro Vientos Specialty Origins, we learned that the history and charm of Ethiopian coffee are undeniable, but we value the freedom of trade and the opportunity to create lasting relationships with producers, something we find more easily in Colombia.
Coffee testing in Ethiopia, Africa
Colombia, an Open and Competitive Coffee Ecosystem
We return home, a country with challenging topography, which means that most farms are small and don't have economies of scale. Our greatest advantage is coffee quality.
Here, each farm, regardless of its size, has the possibility to shine in the specialty coffee market. The Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia ensures a base purchase price but promotes free trade. From small cooperatives to independent exporters, everyone has the opportunity to connect directly with international markets.
Before 2016, only excelso coffee could be exported, and any other type of commercial coffee required a special permit from the Federation or a request letter from the buyer, creating a non-tariff barrier. However, due to the historic drought of 2016, which led to a high production of low-grade coffee, the FNC opened the market, allowing any company the opportunity to export without the need for a quality certificate from this entity.
This situation eliminated non-tariff barriers, allowing coffee of all types, qualities, and processing methods to be easily exported under the designation "Product of Colombia."
What Makes Colombian Coffee Special
- Diversity of Exporters: More than 3,900 active exporters, a dynamic and competitive market.
- Innovation in Regulation: Since 2016 doors were opened for small exporters and producers.
At Cuatro Vientos, we export excellent quality coffee and build bridges between coffee growers and roasters around the world. We believe that knowledge and honest relationships are the key to continuing to take Colombian coffee to new heights.
Coffee roasting process
Roaster, if you're looking for varieties, processes, and direct relationships, choose the Colombian market. If you're seeking good quality at a great price, the Nairobi auction is your best choice, and if you don't mind government regulations, Ethiopia will always be a good origin.
What Does This Coffee Journey Teach Us?
Each country has its charm and challenges. While Kenya and Ethiopia have different commercial structures, we share the same passion: to offer the world the best coffee.
Traveling to Kenya and Ethiopia allowed us to taste exceptional coffees and reflect on how each market adapts to its own circumstances and regulations. At Cuatro Vientos Specialty Origins, we believe that each coffee tells a story, and those stories deserve to be told with transparency and authenticity.
Upon returning to Colombia, we reaffirm our commitment to continue supporting local coffee growers, building long-term relationships, and ensuring that every coffee bean we export is a faithful sample of the effort and dedication of our allied producers.
Discover Colombian Coffee with Cuatro Vientos
If you're a coffee roaster or simply a lover of good coffee, we invite you to learn more about Colombian specialty coffee. At Cuatro Vientos Specialty Origins, we export with passion and knowledge, ensuring that each lot tells a story and leaves an impression in every cup.