What is a coffee-growing area?
Coffee-growing areas are geographical regions or areas where coffee plants are grown. These areas provide the ideal conditions for the growth and production of coffee. Coffee-growing areas are characterised by certain climatic and geographical features that are necessary for coffee plants to thrive, such as proximity to the equator, certain altitudes, temperatures, rainfall and soil conditions. In these areas, coffee plants are grown and harvested to produce green coffee, which is later roasted, ground and sold as coffee beans or coffee products. The largest coffee-growing areas are located along the equator in the so-called "coffee belt", where the coffee plant finds optimal growing conditions.
What are the 10 most important coffee-growing regions?
Brazil -
With an impressive 1,898,240 hectares of cultivated land, Brazil is the undisputed leader among coffee producers. The country is home to more than 300,000 coffee farmers and produces about 69 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee annually. Although Brazil exports most of its coffee, almost half of the crop is consumed domestically, with Germany being the largest buyer.
Vietnam -
has caught up in recent years and secured second place among the largest coffee-growing regions. The country now has 637,560 hectares of cultivated land and produces about 29 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee annually. This puts Vietnam just behind Brazil in terms of coffee production.
Colombia -
is another country that has firmly established itself in the top 3 of the world's largest coffee-growing regions. Around 14.3 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee are harvested annually from a cultivated area of 844,740 hectares.
Indonesia -
occupies fourth place on this list. The country cultivates 1,264,330 hectares and focuses on individuality and special cultivation methods. The annual harvest is about 12.4 million 60-kilogram bags.
Ethiopia -
which is known for its forest coffee, has a cultivated area of 856,590 hectares. The country is particularly successful in the production of Arabica coffee beans and harvests about 7.375 million 60-kilogram bags of green coffee annually.
Honduras, India, Uganda, Mexico and Peru follow in 6th to 10th place. These countries have cultivation areas of between 380,000 and 610,000 hectares.
Visit our filter or espresso pages to find a changing selection of coffees from these and other regions. Or try one of our subscriptions to have coffee delivered to your door every two, three, four or eight weeks.
