Our story
Colombia and its coffee legacy
The journey is not over yet! Scroll down and discover the history of coffee in Colombia.
Coffee was possibly brought to Latin America by the Dutch through Suriname, and then the French took it to Colombia and Brazil in the 18th century. By the 19th century, coffee cultivation was fundamental in the region, also boosted by the rust plague in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), which until then led world production.
1730
THE FIRST GROWERS IN COOLOMBIA
The Jesuit priests began cultivating what in the future will become our most iconic product: Café de Colombia
1835
FIRST COLOMBIAN EXPORTERS
In 1835, Colombia made its first coffee export, marking the beginning of what would become one of the nation’s most important industries. New York and Hamburg were the two main destinations for the Colombian coffee.
1870
COLOMBIA CONSOLIDATES AS ONE OF THE TOP COFFEE SUPPLIERS
The 1870 export marked the beginning of the consolidation of Colombia as one of the most important coffee suppliers worldwide, setting the stage for nearly two centuries of tradition, quality, and global recognition. That year Colombia coffee exports grew rapidly — rising from 60,000 bags to over 600,000 bags, a tenfold increase that solidified Colombia’s position as a global coffee powerhouse.
1927
FEDERACIÓN NACIONAL DE CAFETEROS IS CREATED
n 1927, the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia was created, uniting Colombian coffee growers under one organization to protect their interests, improve quality, and promote Colombian coffee worldwide.
1938
THE CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON COFFEE (CENICAFE) WAS CREATED
In 1938, the National Coffee Research Center (Cenicafé) was established, becoming the leading institution for scientific research and innovation in Colombian coffee, focused on improving sustainability, productivity, and quality across the entire industry.
1959
THE CHARACTER OF JUAN VALDEZ WAS BORN
In 1959, the iconic character Juan Valdez was created — a symbol representing Colombian coffee farmers and the authenticity of 100% Colombian coffee, recognized worldwide as a mark of quality and origin.
1954
THE EXTENSION SERVICE IS CREATED
That same year, 1959, the Extension Service was established to provide technical assistance and on-the-ground support to coffee growers across Colombia, helping them improve farming practices, productivity, and sustainability.
1965
ALMACAFÉ WAS FOUNDED BY THE FNC
In 1965, Almacafé, the logistics and storage company of the National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC), was created to manage the collection, processing, and distribution of Colombian coffee efficiently throughout the supply chain.
1984
THE CAFÉ DE COLOMBIA LOGO IS CREATED
In 1984, the iconic Café de Colombia logo was created — featuring Juan Valdez and his mule, Conchita — becoming one of the most recognized symbols of origin and quality in the global coffee industry.
2002
PROCAFECOL S.A WAS FOUNDED AND OPENED ITS FIRST JUAN VALDEZ STORE
In 2002, Procafecol S.A. was founded and opened the first Juan Valdez Café store in the Dorado international airport in Bogota, bringing the experience of authentic Colombian coffee directly to consumers and expanding the brand globally.
2025
CAFÉNLACE WAS FOUNDED BY ALMACAFÉ AND POWERED BY BLOOMSPAL
In 2024, Almacafé joined forces with BloomsPal.com to launch Cafénlace — a groundbreaking export and dropshipping service that connects Colombian coffee brands directly with U.S. consumers and retailers, revolutionizing how Colombian coffee reaches the world.