A world of coffee
Humans have always been fascinated with the study of origins. Whether we study etymology – study of the history of words – or be fascinated by the multi origin study of the universe, there is something inherently poetic and intriguing to know where things actually come from.
To inspire our coffee connoisseurs and increase appreciation for their freshly brewed cups of mouth-watering coffee we take for granted, we have prepared a comprehensive world tour, encapsulated in our review, of worldwide regions where coffee is grown.
Coffee Regions at A Glance
Most coffee beans come from either of the regions:
- North America & The Caribbean
- South America
- East Africa
- West Africa
- The Arabian Peninsula
- Asia
North American & The Caribbean
USA, Mexico, and Puerto Rico all have some luxurious coffee beans to offer to the world.
USA
A small oasis for coffee, Hawaii islands possess a treasure of coffee beans. Dotted with active and dormant volcanoes, Hawaii soils are the most fertile plains around the world.
Hawaii has the right amount of sun. Sometimes, the sun gets daunting, however, a canopy of trees and clouds provides protection from harsh sunlight. Moreover, the frequent rain showers are sufficient to moisturize and provide fertility to soils.
Mexico
With over 100,000 coffee farmers, Mexican coffee produce has come parallel to its largest plantations. Southern Region of Mexico, Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Chiapas are leading in producing the highest yield coffee plantations.
Mexico’s coffee offers a surprisingly strong taste, wonderful aroma that plays with your sense of smell, and flavorful depth that is a perfect match for dark roasts.
Some Mexican coffees are named after the region where they are grown. Take Altura, for example, that means harvested at higher altitudes.
Puerto Rico
Historically, Puerto Rico was the leading coffee producing region. At one point in time, it was amongst the top five coffee producing regions. However, natural disasters, global coffee trade and a recession in coffee prices sounded a knell for Puerto Rico coffee.
To revive its coffee plantations, Puerto Rico began to cultivate coffee beans that offered the highest standard in taste and blend. Puerto Rico now produces coffee beans that are considered a niche in cafes around the world.
Balanced body, acidic aftertaste, and a fragrant fruity aroma mark the uniqueness of the fragrance.
South America
Colombia
Most supreme coffee blends originate from Colombia. Known for all kinds of plantations, Colombian coffee plants are carefully grown by small scale subsistence farmers. Families dedicate their time, energy, and efforts in ensuring each bean is grown with utmost care and love.
This allows Colombian coffee to have aromatic sweetness. Many experts have noted that Colombia’s rugged terrain can be attributed for its acidity and beautiful blend.
Brazil
Arabica and Robusta are both grown in the Brazilian fields. Brazilian temperate environment and altitude give the coffee a low acidic, medium body texture.
East Africa
Ethiopia
A lot of historical and anecdotal evidences have suggested Ethiopia to be the cradle of coffee civilization. As the first region to harvest coffee, it is not impossible to think that Ethiopian coffee is one of the world’s finest coffee.
Ethiopia has not just one, or two, but three coffee growing regions: Sidamo, Harrar, and Kaffa. A cup of coffee brewed using Ethiopia’s finest is a manifestation of most extravagant coffee one can have.
Kenya
Kenyan coffee export numbers are in tons as Kenya’s produce is highly popular in the Western hemisphere.
Mount Kenya is most popular for producing a fine yield of coffee. Quality is given the utmost importance by Kenyan farmers. According to locals, the farmers who become negligent towards the produce are castigated by the senior farmers.
With such a high level of discipline and commitment, we can only wonder and be in awe of the wonderful produce of Kenyan coffee.
West Africa
Ivory Coast
If you have had an espresso blend recently, say a thank you to Ivory Coast as Ivory Coast is responsible for producing Robusta coffee that is suited for darker variety of roasts due to light body and light acidity.
The Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is regarded as the kingdom of dry fruits, especially dates. However, what is not widely know is Arab region’s capability to produce one of the crispest crops of coffee.
Yemen
Yemen is the country that heralded a new chapter in Arab history. Yemen was the first country, not just in the Arab world, but also around the globe to first commercially cultivate coffee.
Yemeni coffee is as rich as the tradition of growing coffee; you are most likely to find a few coffee plants and trees in regular Yemeni households.
Owing to the arid climate of the region, Yemen’s coffee cherries are dry harvested. Consequently, Yemeni coffee has a dense flavor, and a strong aroma.
Asia
It is impossible to talk about growing crops or beans and not mention Asia. After all, Asia encompasses large tracts of land that offers all the different types of climate, environment, and terrain that can be a perfect opportunity to experiment with growing coffee on.
Indonesia
Composed of the largest islands in the world, Indonesia has regions like Java, Sulawesi, and Sumatra that are a popular choice for coffee manufacturers around the world.
As a former Dutch colony, Indonesia began growing coffee in the 17th century. Initially, Indonesian coffee’s quality was sub-par; however, soon after independence, Indonesia proved itself to be a leader in producing the finest dry processed coffee.
The most fascinating Indonesian technique is of warehousing the coffee. Indonesian coffee farmers carefully store coffee to let it mature and age finely over a certain amount of time. This leads to coffee becoming deeper, less acidic, and tastier and aromatic.
Vietnam
With fertile fields for rice, how can Vietnam stay behind when it comes to producing coffee?
Like Indonesia, Vietnam was also colonized, albeit by the French, who introduced coffee in the Vietnamese lands.
Coffee fields are found around the areas of Tonkin in Vietnam that have less acidic body and a good balance.
Coffee Environment
Our coffee takes care of all our caffeine and beverage needs. Not only do the coffee beans wake us up, but they also nourish our minds, replenishing our souls.
However, have we thought about what do our coffees need to grow healthily?
Certain coffee plants, such as Finicky Arabica, require high altitudes for most ideal growth. While others like Robusta find fulfilling doses of nourishment in higher temperatures on lower ground.
Such ideal conditions are prevalent in many parts of the world along an Equatorial Zone known as “The Bean Belt”.
How Does Environment Affect Coffee Quality
There is a long list of factors that come together to bring to you the most balanced and perfect blend of coffee.
The richness of the soil, temperature of the environment, the unique chemistry of soil, amount of sunlight, and the altitude all work in unison and bestow the coffee beans with their own distinct taste and richness.
The distinctness of the coffee is so infinite that often coffee beans from the same plantation have the same taste. Well, that explains why every cup of coffee feels like the first cup!
Takeaway
There are many regions that are producing quality coffee and every region has its own unique culture that is reflected in the techniques used to grow coffee.
As coffee consumers, we must be aware of where our coffee is coming from and should demand our manufactures to fairly compensate the coffee farmers. So, the next time we consume our coffee we can do so without any speck of doubt on our conscience.