Where is Coffee Grown and Harvested?

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. Drinking coffee in the morning has been a habit of many people before starting their daily tasks or before going to work. In fact, coffee is the third most consumed beverage in the world next to water and tea.This is the reason why a lot of cafes are opening at every corner in many cities around the globe.

Coffee beans are the world’s second most traded commodity next to oil. There are about half a trillion cups of coffee consumed per year. Aside from brewing a cup of coffee, these beans are also used for providing caffeine for drinks like cola, and for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, through decaffeination. Coffee beans have two commercially grown types, which are Arabica and Robusta. Arabica coffee beans account for 70% of the world’s coffee, while Robusta coffee bean is a cheaper option that is easier to grow.

If you love coffee and wondering where they are grown and harvested, you’re in the right place. Today, we are giving you some of the top countries in the world that grow, harvest, and produce coffee.

Guatemala

Guatemala is one of the top coffee-growing countries in the world. It is able to produce around 200,000 metric tons of coffee beans in a year. Coffee beans are richest in this country in years where the temperature hovers between 16 and 32 degrees Celsius, and as well as at altitudes between 500 and 5,000 meters above sea level. Guatemala was the top producer of coffee beans in Central Americauntil it was overtaken in 2011 by Honduras.

Growing and producing coffee in Guatemala started when they were looking for the export to replace indigo and cochineal. These were two of their early exports that were rendered useless when chemical dyes were invented in the 1800s. During that time, the government of Guatemala started a policy of support for the industry by offering trade and tax benefits. The government further pushed for greater global demand in the 1960s for Guatemalan coffee. It was made possible through the establishment of Anacafe, which is a marketing association, which, up until now, continues to promote the coffee product of this country worldwide.

a coffee farm

 Mexico

Mexico can produce more than 220,000 metric tons of coffee beans in a year. It produces high-quality Arabic beans, and they are grown and harvested in the coastal regions near the border of Guatemala. This is where most of the US coffee imports come from. Back in the 1990s, Mexico faced a crisis in coffee production because the International Coffee Agreement was dismantled. With this, the coffee prices worldwide and as well as export quotas were no longer controlled strictly. This led to an inability for the country to compete in the global market.

The decline in coffee prices and production led to lost income and social issues in Mexico. While the production of coffee declined over the 90s and into the 2000s, the steady demand from the United States helped the Mexican coffee market recover. From producing 1.7 million bags of coffee beans in 2005, Mexico was able to harvest and produce 4 million bags in 2014.

man and woman checking coffee plants

 Uganda

Uganda is not a popular country when it comes to producing coffee. But did you know that it is Central Africa’s top-earning export? In 2015, Uganda surpassed Mexico, becoming the world’s 8th largest producer of coffee. Robusta coffee beans are grown in this country, which is a crop native to the Kibale forest area. It also grows Arabica beans that comefrom nearby Ethiopia.

Coffee production is an important part of the Ugandan economy. It’s becausea large portion of the population in this country work in coffee-related industries. The production of coffee was initially a rationally unsuccessful state-controlled area. However, in 1991, after the government privatization, a strong revival of the area was seen. With this,there has been a 5100% increase in production since 1989.

 India

India can grow and produce more than 300,000 metric tons of coffee beans in a year. However, not the whole country is perfect for growing coffee. The majority of the coffee beans in India are grown in the southern part of the country’s hilly tracts.They are grown and harvested by small growers in monsoon rainfall conditions. They are usually planted together with spices like cinnamon and cardamom, which give the coffee a spicy taste and aroma.

Coffee is not as popular as tea in India. About 80% of the coffee grown, harvested, and produced in this country is bound for export purposes. The main buyers of coffee produced in India are Europe and Russia.

Honduras

Honduras can grow and harvest over 340,000 metric tons of coffee in a year. In fact, it has outpaced other countries in becoming the top coffee producer in Central America. However, the coffee produced in this country still lacks national branding. Coffee beans from Honduras are usually used in blends. This is why they are less recognizable to the average coffee consumer. But coffeegrowing and production is still a vital part of the country’s economy. It continues to provide jobs and revenue to a large part of their population.

 Ethiopia

Ethiopia is the 5th largest coffee-producing country in the world. It can produce more than 7 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee beans in a year. In fact, it is the largest coffee producer in Africa. It is the geographic home of Arabica coffee, which is the most popular type of coffee beans in the world. Coffee production is not a small part of Ethiopia’s economy. More than 28% of the yearly exports of this country is from coffee production. Around 15 million citizens in Ethiopia are employed in coffee-growing facilities.

Indonesia

woman harvesting coffee in Indonesia

Indonesia is the 3rd largest producer of Robusta coffee beans in the world. This country can produce about 10 million 60-kilogram bags of both Robusta and Arabica coffee beans in a year. Indonesia has 1.2 million hectares of coffee crops. Most of these are small, independent farms, each owning one to two hectares. There are also several types of highly sought-after specialty coffees produced in Indonesia. One of them is the Kopi Luwak. These beans are harvested from the feces of Asian palm civets. They have a distinctive and unique flavor. Harvesting these coffee beans is also intensive, making it one of the most expensive coffee beans in the world.

 Colombia

Colombia is one of the most famous coffee-producing countries in the world. However, the climate in this country has been playing a negative role in their coffee production recently. Between 1980 and 2010, the temperatures have slowly risen and have precipitation, which both can jeopardize the climate requirements that are necessary to produce the type of bean favored in Colombia.

Originally, Colombia was the second-largest coffee-producing country in the world. However, due to its rapidly expanding production, it has moved to third. Even with an issue with the changing climate, Colombia can still produce more than 800,000 metric tons of coffee beans in a year. It remains a key player in the international coffee game.

 Vietnam

Vietnam is the second-largest coffee-producing country in the world. It can produce more than 1 million metric tons of coffee beans in a year. There was understandably an interruption during and after the Vietnam War, but coffee still remained a huge part of the economy in Vietnam. The country experienced a rapid expansion in coffee productionfrom producing only 6,000 tons in 1975 to about 2 million tons in 2016. This made Vietnam reach second place in the world’s largest coffee-producing countries.

 Brazil

Brazil is number one in the world when it comes to growing, harvesting, and producing coffee beans. In fact, it has played a pivotal role in the development of the country. Until today, it continues to be a driving force in the economy of Brazil. The coffee plant was first brought to this country in the 18th century by French settlers. When coffee became popular among Europeans in the 1840s, Brazil became the largest producer in the world and has been ever since.

There are around 300,000 coffee farms that are spread over the Brazilian landscape. Most of them are in Sao Paulo, Parana, and Minas Gerais, where the climate and temperature are ideal in growing coffee. This country can produce more than 2 million metric tons of coffee beans in a year. You can also distinguish Brazil from other coffee-producing nations because it processes coffee using the dry process or unwashed coffee. Rather than washing the coffee cherries, they are dried in the sun.

These are the top places where most coffee beans are grown and harvested. We hope the information we shared here helped you in knowing more about the places where the coffee beans you love to brew in the morning are coming from.