Coffee beans are grown within an area known as the “bean belt,” which is roughly bound by the Tropic of Cancer to the north and the Tropic of Capricorn to the south. The best growing areas offer moderate sunlight, rainfall, steady temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and rich soil. Of the two types of coffee trees grown, Arabica accounts for nearly 70% of the total harvest, while Robusta, a hardier plant that produces lower-quality beans, makes up the remaining 30%. Here are the top ten coffee-producing regions.
Brazil
As the leading producer of coffee beans, Brazil accounts for nearly 30% of the world’s supply, producing approximately 22.5 million bags per year. Although Brazil is a top producer, some coffee enthusiasts fear that its emphasis on quantity leads to decreased quality. However, some regions in Brazil offer finer varieties, such as the Bourbon Santos, which is highly sought after. A producer since the 18th century, Brazil grows mostly Arabica coffee trees and is the only growing region subject to occasional frost.
Colombia
Colombia’s success can be attributed to its ports on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, making it the only South American country with this advantage. Most Colombian coffee is grown in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, where high altitudes and a moist climate produce mild coffee beans. The country produces nearly 10.5 million bags each year. Since coffee is such an important revenue source, all vehicles entering Colombia are sprayed for harmful bacteria that could destroy coffee trees.
Indonesia
The first thriving coffee plantation in Indonesia was established on the island colony of Java in the late 1800s (hence coffee’s nickname, “Java”). Once a top producer of Arabica beans, many of Indonesia’s Arabica coffee plantations were destroyed, leading to an increase in the production of hardier Robusta beans. Still, high-quality Arabica beans, such as those from Sumatra, Flores, and Sulawesi, are grown. Indonesia produces nearly 6.7 million bags annually.
Vietnam
A latecomer to coffee production, Vietnam became a top producer in the 1990s. The industry has grown quickly, and traders worry that processing has not kept pace with growth, leading to beans of lower quality compared to many other countries. Daklak is Vietnam’s main growing region, yielding around 5.8 million bags of Robusta beans each year.
Mexico
Mexico began major coffee exportation in the 1870s and is now the leading source of U.S. coffee imports. Most of Mexico’s coffee beans are grown in the southern part of the country by small-scale farms, numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Mexico exports around 5 million bags per year and produces fine bean varieties such as the Altura and Pluma Coixtepec.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia, the natural home of the Arabica tree, leads the continent in coffee consumption. It is also the setting for many coffee origin stories. Approximately twelve million Ethiopians make a living from coffee, producing 3.8 million bags each year. Ethiopia is the top exporter of Arabica beans in Africa.
India
India produces nearly 3.8 million bags of coffee annually. Coffee production is strictly controlled by the Indian Coffee Board, which some believe reduces the quality of beans and limits economic benefits for growers. One special type of Indian coffee, the Monsooned Malabar, is made from green beans exposed to monsoon winds blowing through open warehouses.
Guatemala
Introduced by German immigrants in the 19th century, coffee cultivation in Guatemala has since become a major industry, involving nearly a quarter of the population. Guatemala’s high-grown beans (above 4,500 feet) are among the world’s best, especially those grown on the southern volcanic slopes. The country produces 3.5 million bags per year, with coveted blends such as Atitlan and Huehuetenango.
Côte d’Ivoire
This country has seen a recent decline in coffee production, possibly due to its emphasis on volume and lack of investment and planning for sustainable production. Mainly producing Robusta beans, Côte d’Ivoire produces nearly 3.3 million bags annually. Its coffee is often used in mass-market products in France and Italy.
Uganda
In Uganda, Robusta coffee beans account for 75% of the country’s export revenue and provide employment for 80% of the rural population. Most of the UK’s instant coffee comes from Uganda. The country produces 3 million bags annually and relies heavily on coffee as a source of income, a trend likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
Why is Fair Trade Important to Coffee-Producing Regions?
The goal of the Fair Trade movement is to ensure that the world’s coffee farmers—most of whom run small operations—receive a fair price for their crops, enabling them to earn a decent living wage. The Fair Trade agreement ensures a minimum price is paid per pound of coffee, regardless of market fluctuations. It also guarantees long-term relationships for selling goods and offers credit at fair prices. Additionally, Fair Trade is thought to have environmental benefits because small growers do not need to use chemical fertilizers or pesticides to produce higher yields. Under Fair Trade, growers earn enough to support their livelihoods through small, shade-grown coffee plots.
