Coffee Production

Where does this happen?

Coffee grows exclusively in tropical and sub-tropical regions. The present coffee-producing belt around the globe comprises about 70 countries involved in cultivation, and lies between the latitudes of 23 degrees north and 25 degrees south. The ideal growing conditions for coffee trees are an average of 17 degrees Celsius to 23 degrees Celsius as well as abundant precipitation and fertile soil.

Countries

Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer. On average it produces around 28 percent of the total world output. Colombia follows second with about 16 percent, third lies Indonesia with around seven percent, and fourth Mexico with about four percent. After that a number of countries follow that only contribute between three percent and less than one percent to world coffee production.

Altitudes

The altitude at which a coffee is grown plays a major role in determining the quality of the bean. Because there is less oxygen, coffees grown at higher altitudes take longer to mature than plants grown at lower altitudes. This allows the flavours to develop more fully and produces beans that are delicate and flavourful. Higher-grown coffee beans usually have a higher density than low-grown beans, which enhances the complexity of the coffee flavour profile.

Most Central American coffees are graded by altitude.

Altitude Bean Type:

• above 1.600 metres Strictly Hard Bean
• 1.350 - 1.600 metres Hard Bean
• 1.200 - 1.350 metres Semi Hard Bean
• 1.000 - 1.200 metres Extra Prime Washed
• above 600 metres Prime Washed

Growing conditions

The coffee plant is selective about growing conditions. Coffee trees can't tolerate weather that is too hot or cold, or too wet or dry. They need direct sunlight, but only for a few hours a day - about two hours a day is ideal.

Wild coffee in Ethiopia grows in rain-forest mountains where taller trees shelter it from the sun's burning rays and low-growing plants serve as mulch. Farmers try to mimic those conditions by planting fruit trees between coffee trees to provide shade, mulch and an alternative crop. Other growers build protective trellises or plant their groves on hillsides that only receive a few hours of sun per day. Coffee plants thrive in fertile well-drained soil.

Enemies

The most feared enemy of the coffee plant is leaf rust; a mould that infects the leaf and makes it turn brown and black and eventually fall off. Other enemies are insects: lice and caterpillars. Another constant threat comes from the weather conditions: hail, storm, heavy rainfall, drought and frost can be fatal.