Colombian vs Sumatran coffee: taste, roast and which to buy

Buy the washed Colombian, No. 1 Common Sense, if you want a clean, balanced cup with cocoa and red apple that works black or with milk. Buy the wet-hulled Sumatran, No. 3 Position, if you want a heavier, earthier cup with dark chocolate and dried fruit that holds its shape under milk, over ice, or as espresso. Both are medium in body for their region, but they come from different processes and taste noticeably different side by side. Here is what separates them, using only what is on the label.

Process and altitude

No. 1 Common Sense is grown in Huila and Medellin-Antioquia, Colombia at 1,300 to 1,500 m and fully washed, then solar dried. Washing removes the fruit before drying, which strips out a lot of the sugar and fermentation character and leaves a cleaner, more transparent cup.

No. 3 Position is grown in Aceh, Takengon, Indonesia at 1,100 to 1,600 m and wet-hulled, a process specific to Sumatra where the parchment is removed while the bean is still damp, then dried the rest of the way. Wet-hulling leaves more moisture and more surface contact during drying, which is a large part of why Sumatran coffees typically read as heavier and earthier than a washed coffee from a similar altitude.

Varietal is on the label too, though it predicts flavor less reliably than process does. Common Sense is a mix of Castillo, Caturra, Colombia and Typica, standard Colombian varieties chosen for balance and yield. Position runs Tim Tim, Typica, Ateng, Onan Ganjang and Jember, a wider mix typical of smallholder plots in Aceh, where several varieties often grow side by side on the same farm.

Notes and roast

Common Sense is roasted medium. Position does not carry a roast level from the roaster, so we do not state one here; go by the notes on the label instead, which read darker and heavier than a typical medium.

Best brew method for each

Common Sense is built for drip or French press, at 60 g of coffee per liter of water, with water just off the boil. It takes milk without falling apart, which makes it the easier everyday pot.

Position is built for espresso, pulled 1:2 in about 28 seconds, or a moka pot. Its heavier body holds its shape under milk and under ice, which is why it works well in a latte or a Sumatran iced coffee. A pour-over will work with either, but it flattens the exact quality (weight and earthiness) that makes Position distinct.

Freshness and how they ship

Both are roasted after you order at Temecula Coffee Roasters in Temecula, California, and ship free anywhere in the US within days. Neither bag carries a printed roast date; the FAQ page explains why an on-demand roast makes one unnecessary. Store either bag sealed and away from light and heat, and grind it close to brew time so the notes on the label actually show up in the cup.

Which one should you buy

If you drink drip coffee or French press, black or with a splash of milk, and you want something clean and sweet rather than heavy, get Common Sense. If you pull espresso, run a moka pot, or drink most of your coffee with milk or over ice, and you want a cup with weight that does not thin out under dairy, get Position. If you cannot decide, the two are different enough to be worth trying both and finding out which mornings you reach for.

Both come in whole bean and ground at the same price. See the full label facts for either on their product pages, browse all ten coffees, and check the FAQ for how roasting on demand and shipping work. For a related side by side, read Colombian vs Ethiopian natural.

Neither is the wrong choice. They are built for different cups, and the label facts above are the same facts printed on each bag, so you can check them again once it arrives.