The FNC’s Almacafé facility in Manizales, founded in 1965, plays a key role in both milling and facilitating the commercialization of this coffee, offering producers essential support with quality control, logistics, and traceability.Coffee growers in Caldas also benefit from the support of Colombia’s Federación Nacional de Cafeteros (FNC), founded in 1927, whose work across the region contributes to technical assistance, infrastructure development and access to international markets. Caldas also holds an important place in the history of Colombian specialty coffee, as it was one of the first departments where the FNC developed differentiated coffee programs following the international recognition of coffees produced in the indigenous reserve of San Lorenzo, in Riosucio. Located within the mountainous landscapes of Colombia’s central Andes, Caldas has long been recognized as one of the country’s most important coffee-producing regions. Coffee is cultivated throughout 25 municipalities, including Manizales, Chinchiná, Palestina, Riosucio, Pácora, San José, Anserma and Viterbo, where fertile volcanic soils and elevations averaging around 1,566 meters above sea level create favorable conditions for coffee cultivation. The department counts more than 40,000 coffee farms spread across over 63,000 hectares of coffee-planted land, with nearly 95% of producers classified as smallholders managing less than five hectares. Varieties such as Castillo, Colombia and Caturra are widely cultivated, while selective handpicking and fully washed processing methods contribute to consistency and preparation quality. More than 18,000 farms across Caldas are linked to sustainability standards and differentiated coffee programs, reinforcing the region’s reputation as a reliable source of carefully prepared Colombian coffees. Graded as Supremo SC17/18, this coffee consists of large, uniform beans with minimal defects, reflecting a high standard of sorting and preparation that supports both visual quality and a clean, consistent cup profile.