49 Years Of innovation and passion

Since 1973, the National Coffee Federation of Colombia has operated one of the largest and most sophisticated freeze-dried coffee processing facilities in the world: Buencafé Freeze-dried of Colombia. This facility processes approximately 23 million cups of coffee daily and exports them to close to 40 countries, conquering new markets for Colombian coffee. One hundred percent of Buencafé’s profits are returned to the coffee producer.

Freeze-dried coffee made its first appearance in the world in 1960, a landmark in the history of instant coffee because that technological revolution allowed the sensory characteristics – the aroma and flavor – of the fresh, roasted, and ground coffee bean, to stay intact. Thirteen years later, in 1973, the initiative of Arturo Gómez Jaramillo, at that time General Manager of the National Coffee Federation, opened the doors to the Buencafé facility in Chinchiná, Caldas. The Buencafé facility made its first batch of freeze-dried coffee on March 27th.

Over these 49 years, the facility has had four expansions (1983, 1997, 2008 and 2019). It has initiated and perfected the technology of its processes, diversified its production, and innovated a broad portfolio of products. It has expanded its commercial frontiers and achieved high recognitions and national and international certifications, as much as at the product level as for its quality management, environmental management, security, and workplace safety systems.

Throughout its history, Buencafé has generated development in the region, converting itself into the largest employer in Chinchiná. It has likewise disseminated its objectives of equilibrium among social, economic, and environmental elements. Its goal today is to create an agile and sustainable culture that facilitates achieving its ultimate purpose: “Creating a living optimism as a transformative force that drives us to create sustainable value in the world of coffee.” With this objective, the team at Buencafé works daily to positively impact the planet.