Have you ever wondered where your morning cup of coffee comes from? Coffee beans undergo a long journey from a remote coffee farm to your cup. This long journey affects everything from taste to pricing. In this blog post, we will explore the fascinating journey of coffee beans.
Origin of Coffee Beans
The exact moment when coffee was discovered is still a mystery but one popular legend trace back the origin of coffee to Ethiopia.
According to legend, it all started with a herder named Kaldi. One day he noticed that his goats were overly energetic, dancing and jumping when they ate bright red berries from a nearby shrub. He was curious about the berries and tried them himself. Soon he also felt the same energy and introduced the berries to a local monk.
The monk then created a drink from those berries that would help him stay awake during long-hour prayers. The word of these energetic berries soon spread out and became popular.
The story of Kaldi and the dancing goat is a legend but Coffee Arabica, which is a coffee plant is native to that region. This is the historical evidence that coffee was first brewed and consumed in Ethiopia.
From Ethiopia, it reached the Arabian Peninsula where it flourished in Yemen. By the 15th century, coffee had become a popular beverage in the arab world. At that time it made its way to Egypt, Turkey, and Persia where it began as a cultural fixture.
Coffee houses known as Qahveh Khaneh also started in the Middle East and they serve as a social hub for intellect and others.
In the 17th century, European travelers brought coffee to Europe and soon coffee houses began in cities like Venice, London, and Paris.
Today coffee is cultivated in 70 countries but who would have thought a goat discovery and herber curiosity would give the world its best and one of the most popular beverages?
Coffee Growing Region
Coffee is grown in a specific region known as the coffee belt. This region stretches from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn. It includes countries from South America, Central America, south Asia, central Africa, and the Pacific.
The coffee belt provides a perfect environment for coffee to grow. It has a warm climate, high altitude, and fertile soil. This region also produces the two main coffee species: Arabica and Robusta.
Key Condition for Coffee Cultivation
Here are the key conditions that are required for coffee cultivation.
Climate
Coffee plants flourish in moderate to warm temperatures, generally between 15°C to 24°C. Coffee is grown in the tropical or subtropical region that has a balance of warmth and humidity.
Altitude
Arabica beans are grown in a region of 600 to 1800 meters altitude. This altitude slows down the growth of the beans and helps them develop a more complex flavor. Whereas robusta beans are grown in low altitudes and are resistant to harsher climates.
Soil
Coffee plants usually prefer volcanic or high-mineral soil. Volcanic soil enhances the quality of the beans because they are rich in nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen.
Coffee Producing Countries
Coffee is a globally consumed beverage and morning ritual in many places around the world. However numerous countries contribute to its cultivation but here are some of the countries that produce the most coffee beans with unique taste profiles.
South America
It is home to two of the most famous coffee producers in the world. Brazil and Colombia together dominate the global coffee market.
Brazil
Brazil is the major producer of coffee. Accounting for a total of one-third of the global coffee supply. Its vast coffee plantation covers 27,000 square kilometers, producing mainly arabica beans.
Colombia
Colombia is known for producing some of the most smoothest and balanced arabica beans. These beans a regrown in high altitudes of the Andes mountains. The dedication of Colombia to the quality of the beans makes it a top choice for specialty coffee lovers.
Read more about why Colombian coffee is so special.
Central America
Central American countries produce some of the highest-quality coffee beans in the world. They focus on specialty coffee and offer beans with distinct flavors.
Guatemala
Guatemala has a high altitude and rich volcanic soil. These elements are important for coffee growth. Coffee beans produced here have bright acidity and a complex and nuanced flavor.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s main focus is on the Arabica beans. They also have a strong reputation for quality over quantity.
Honduras
Honduras a favourable coffee growing conditions and dedicated farmers. They also have emerged as the key player in the specialty coffee market.
Africa
Africa is the birthplace of coffee and it remains the key coffee-producing country.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee and they still produce the most distinctive and sought-after beans in the world. The country’s diverse regions such as Sidamo, yirgacheffe, and Harrer offer an incredible variety of flavor profiles.
Kenya
Kenyan strict quality control ensures that only high-quality beans reach the global market. This makes Kenya coffee beans premium beans. It is famous for its bright acidity, full-bodied, and bold flavor.
Asia Pacific
In Asia Pacific countries like Indonesia and Vietnam stand out as coffee producers. Each contributes unique beans to the market.
Indonesia
In Indonesia regions like Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi are known for earthy and spice coffee production. The country produces arabica and robusta beans but its specialty lies in the arabica beans.
Vietnam
Vietnam is the largest producer of robusta beans. Robusta beans are used in instant coffee and espresso for their bold flavor and crema production.
Conclusion
Coffee beans come from the geographic region known as coffee belt. It stretches from the Tropic of Cancer to Capricorn and includes four continents and about 70 countries.
Some of the major producers of coffee beans are Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, Ethiopia, Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
