Since the 1980s, Colombian coffee production has shifted away from the large farms of the Eje Cafetero towards smallholders in areas more suited to producing differentiated coffees.
Today, more than half of Colombian coffee is classified as specialty coffee or sold under a certification scheme.
Women perform a growing share of the work of production and are increasingly likely to own farms and belong to cooperatives.
Some women have opted to establish female-only associations, but critics say these organisations often benefit importers and roasters more than producers.
After the leaf rust epidemic hit Colombia in 2008, replanting with resistant varieties led to a dramatic increase in production. Since 2021, a prolonged La Niña has resulted in reduced yields.