Tunja, Boyaca, Colombia Claims To Have Set World Record For Largest Coffee Party With 13,800 Guests

A city in Colombia has reportedly hosted a "coffee party" that had so many guests it may have set a world record. The city of Tunja, which is the capital of Boyaca in eastern Colombia, had 13,800 people in their town square last Friday for one purpose: to have a cup of Arabica coffee. The quest to set the world record was rooted to promote coffee, which the nation produces but hardly consumes. Coordinated by local authorities and the farmer-funded National Federation of Coffee Producers, the organizers have submitted the proof to the Guinness World Records, reports Reuters.

Incidentally, while Colombia produces some of the best coffee in the world (ranging from low to medium acidity and body) due to its high altitude and tropical temperatures, the nation hardly consumes it. Estimates suggest that the per capita consumption of coffee in Colombia is less than half of what is consumed in the United States and a quarter of what is consumed in Scandinavia. This finding is surprising given that Colombia ranks second worldwide in yearly coffee production. In fact, Business Recorder reports that Colombia's 2013 coffee output will most likely surpass 10 million 60-kg bags.

That said, until Guinness gives its stamp of approval, the claim will merely be a claim. The Guinness website states that the current world record for the largest coffee party in a single venue is held by Krüger GmbH & Co. KG in

Jugendpark, Cologne, Germany. The record was set in August 2009 when 8,162 people were served an iced coffee beverage with a piece of cake. Guinness World Records Adjudicator Kristian Teufel was present to verify the world record being set. Prior to this event, the world record was held by London in 2008 for 4,585 coffee drinkers in a single venue.