By Laura Sandoval, SUNY Oneonta
Hello everyone! My name is Laura Sandoval. I am a senior majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting and a minor in Economics at SUNY Oneonta. In my free time, I love to travel, explore new places, and go to the gym. Above all, I am deeply passionate about sharing my culture with others and inspiring people to learn more about Colombia and its beautiful people.
Colombia is internationally recognized as one of the world’s leading coffee exporters, renowned for producing high-quality Arabica beans that command premium prices in global markets. Coffee is critical to our nation; it accounts for roughly 7% of Colombia’s GDP and nearly 12% of its total agricultural exports. Yet, despite this massive production status, an intriguing economic paradox exists: coffee prices within Colombia remain remarkably high for local consumers.
My research seeks to examine this exact paradox: why are domestic coffee prices so elevated in a country that is both a major producer and exporter?..To analyze how prices vary across Colombian regions, I conducted a comparative study examining price differences among high-end, mid-priced, and small-scale coffee shops. Specifically, this project explores the unique coffee cost dynamics across the Andean, Pacific, and Caribbean regions.
I chose to conduct this investigation in Colombia because coffee is woven into the very fabric of our culture. Having been born here, I know firsthand how coffee is a core part of who we are as a country. To get a comprehensive view, I decided to visit states that are heavy coffee producers alongside regions that are not, comparing their pricing structures, branding strategies, customer experiences, and local coffee cultures.
My journey has followed a structured itinerary, spending five days in each selected city to gather field data and observe local market behaviors. I started in the heart of the coffee-growing regions, visiting Manizales and Medellín, both famous for their deep ties to production. From there, I traveled to Cali in the Pacific region, and I am now in my final city, Barranquilla, my hometown on the Caribbean coast.
This investigation has been an incredible opportunity to learn about the complexities of coffee production and consumption while exploring new corners of my own country. I have had the privilege of meeting brilliant people who possess a wealth of knowledge regarding coffee distribution. I now have a much deeper appreciation for the immense amount of hard work that goes into producing a single bag of coffee, and a clearer understanding of just how vital this commodity is to our national economy.
When analyzing the local coffee shop landscapes, the regional differences become stark. In production hubs like Manizales, the culture is deeply rooted in the origin of the bean, whereas in major economic centers like Medellín, high-end shops leverage branding and consumer experience to justify premium pricing. Meanwhile, in coastal cities like Barranquilla, which are further from the primary farms, supply chain logistics and transport costs play a completely different role in shaping retail prices.
I am almost back home now, getting ready to compile my findings and analyze the final data points. I look forward to breaking down the exact economic drivers behind these pricing disparities. Stay tuned, as I will share more detailed insights and stories from this incredible journey in my next blog post!
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