The cultivation of coffee can be found to the east, and also to the west in different regions of Africa. Cultivated coffee can be found between the Tropic of Capricorn and Cancer, forming a belt.
The regions in which growing will consist of a moderate amount of sunshine and rain, with temperatures that stay near 700F (200c), having porous soil, that is rich. This fragile coffee tree will yield coffee beans are economical and popular in dozens of countries, with approximately 25 million people. It is a natural commodity with monetary value that only oil surpasses.
Arabica and Robusta are the two main kinds of coffee trees. The most fragile of the two is the Arabica coffee trees, as they have to be grown in areas with a higher elevation (1800 ft and up), yielding less beans on each tree during each consecutive growing season. The Robusta coffee trees can with stand the lower elevations and have a higher yield of beans. Arabica gives the best beans, yielding around 70% of the entire harvest. While the harsher, Robusta coffee tree only accounts for approximately 30% of the production of coffee globally. It is a mainstream coffee blend (having a lower quality).
Top 10 Coffee Producing Regions:
In the 1997-98 crop year, there were 132 lbs. (60 kg) produced, according to the United States National Coffee Association.
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For Brazil (22.5 million bags of coffee)
Coffee begin to spread rapidly in Brazil during the early 18th century, soon after the arrival from the French Guiana. Currently, Brazil stands responsible for nearly one-third of the world’s coffee production, making it #1 in the world. Although, there are many connoisseurs who feel that a toll is being taken on the quality due to Brazil putting to mush emphasis on quantity, yet, they praise the finer varieties of their country. Furthermore, Brazil is the only country with a high volume of production which is subject to frost. For instance, in 1975 they faced a devastating frost which gave the other coffee growing countries a break. Due to the two different frosts that occurred in 1994, the price of coffee went up worldwide.
The two top brands of coffee are: Brazil Bourbon Santos and Bahia.
2. Colombia (10.5 million bags of coffee)
Colombia has an advantage being the only country in South American that has two ports they can use for shipping, the Atlantic and the Pacific. These crops are so important to their economy that they take pre-cautions with every car that enters Colombia by spraying them for bacteria. The coffee in Colombia is grown in the moist foot-hills in Andes where the weather is temperate, with a moist climate combined with a higher altitude, which makes it perfect for coffee to grow.
Their top coffees are: Colombian Supremo, and Medellin.
3. Indonesia (6.7 million bags of coffee)
At the time that the Dutch first began their European coffee plantation it was very successful which lead them to give coffee a nickname towards the end of the 17th century. Their coffee plantation was on an island colony in Java, now it is a part of Indonesia. To this day, the top-grade Arabica is still being produced in Java, and also in Sumatra, Flores, and Sulawesi. However, Indonesian archipelago is still the most notable in the world as the largest producer of Robusta beans.
Their top coffees are: Sumatra Mandheling, Java Estate, and Sulawesi (Celebes Kalossi).
4. Vietnam (5.8 million bags of coffee
Coffee was first brought to Vietnam by the French missionaries during the mid-1860’s. However, around the 1980’s production was still negligible. In the 1990’s, the production of coffee began at a rapid pace by the Vietnamese. There was at least one of the traders concerned about the coffee industry growing too fast, according to Daklak, the main region for growing coffee is in Vietnam. He said, “With crop’s growing so rapidly the processing cannot keep up, which leads to problems in quality.”
Their top coffee being: Robusta
5. Mexico (5 million bags of coffee)
Coffee appeared in Mexico towards the end of the 18th century, from Antilles, though it was later, in the 1870’s before it could be exported in greater quantities. Currently, most of the Mexican coffee is being generated on about 100,000 small farms, with the majority of the beans coming from the south. With Mexico being the largest coffee import to the United States.
Their top being: Liquidambar, Mexican Altura Coatepec, Pluma Coixtepec, and MS.
6. Ethiopia (3.8 million bags of coffee)
Africa’s leading Arabica exporter is Ethiopia, it is also the leading for the continent’s consumption. With Ethiopia being the home of the Arabica tree and also nearly all of coffee’s origin legends. Coffee has been said to be a derivation of “Kaffa,” which is the Ethiopian provinces’ name. Nearly twelve million Ethiopians are making a living off from coffee.
Their top coffee being: Sidamo, Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, and Ethiopian Harrar Longberry.
7. India (3.8 million bags of coffee)
The legend is that the birthplace of coffee cultivation to the east of Arabia is India. It is said by some that the economic incentive from the coffee production currently being under strict control by the Indian Coffee Board is lowering its quality.
Their top coffee being: Monsooned Malabar, and Mysore.
8. Guatemala (3.5 million bags of coffee)
In the 19th century, coffee cultivation became serious when it was initiated into Guatemala by the German immigrants. Currently, the highest grown beans in that country, especially the ones that are grown by the southern volcanic slopes, are some of the world’s best coffee’s.
Their top coffee being: Atitlan, Guatamalan Antigua, and Huehuetenanbgo.
9. Côte d’Ivoire (3.3 million bags of coffee)
Côte d’Ivoire was considered to be the second largest producer of Robusta coffee in the mid 1990’s, and the fifth among coffee producers in general. It has been speculated that more emphasis on their volume and less on investment and planning led to less quality product. Therefore, the reason for the decline. Currently, many exports are ending up in Europe as a mass marketed coffee.
Their top coffee being: Robusta
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Uganda (3 million bags of coffee)
Uganda, being a key producer for Robusta coffee, does not grow but a little of the Arabica coffee. Which accounts for 75% of that country’s export revenue, providing 80% of the employment of all rural workers. It would appear that Uganda will remain loyal to producing coffee in the future.
Their top coffee being: Bugisu
