The variety named Colombia was released by Cenicafé in 1982 — the country’s first rust-resistant variety, and a Catimor-family cross of Caturra with the Timor hybrid.
Why it mattered
Coffee leaf rust reached Colombia in 1983, the year after release. Without a resistant variety already available, the damage would have been far worse.
It was planted very widely through the 1980s and 1990s.
The cup
Clean and moderate — sweet, balanced, unremarkable. Better than early Catimors and below Caturra.
It carried much of the reputation damage that rust-resistant varieties acquired.
Superseded
Castillo, released in 2005, is a later generation of the same breeding line with better cup and better yield. It has largely replaced the Colombia variety.
The confusing name persists on older plantings and on bags.
Brewing it
Filter or espresso at medium roast.