Coffee is grown all over the world. However, because the coffee plant is adverse to cold conditions, it is only grown in the tropics. The tropics are the band of land that circles the middle of the globe, centered on the equator  between the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere. This is the only area on the planet where coffee thrives.

 

By definition, coffee is a woody, perennial evergreen belonging to the Rubiaceae family of plants. It is not really a tree, but more like a really big shrub. Coffee plants can grow up to 20' tall, but most cultivated coffee plants are kept around 8'-10' tall for easier harvesting. Coffee prefers a damp, shady climate, preferably on a volcanic hillside above 5000'. Robustas can grow on sun plains at relatively low altitudes (1500'-2000'), but arabica plants would wither under that much sun. Arabicas grown at high altitudes under optimal conditions will produce the best coffees the world has to offer.

 

The following is a non-exclusive list of coffee growing countries. We have only included countries that primarily produce arabica coffee beans for the specialty coffee trade (that's us). Countries like Vietnam and Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) produce millions of pounds of coffee every year, but those beans are almost exclusively robusta grown for large-scale commercial production (Folger's, Maxwell House, etc.). We here at H.T. Brown Coffee just aren't that interested in robusta beans or the countries that produce them. We are focused on arabica beans, trying to find the best ones the world has to offer. These are most of the countries we focus on.

 

Africa/Arabian Peninsula

Ethiopia
Location:	Horn of East Africa, bordered by Eritrea (north) Somalia (east), Kenya (south) Sudan (west).
Size:	1,103,341 sq km (426,002 sq mi).
Population:	61,558,000
Coffee Exports:	2.4 million 60-kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	September - March. Growing regions: Harar, Sidamo (Yirgacheffe), Limmu, Djimmah

Located in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is the birthplace of arabica coffee. Arabica coffee has grown wild in Ethiopia for thousands of years, and it has been cultivated there for many centuries. Most of the country's coffee is produced in the eastern, southern, and western parts of the country at altitudes between 4000' - 6000'. These areas include famous coffee growing regions like Harar and Sidamo, known globally for their fine coffees.

Coffee is grown by four different methods in Ethiopia: Forest, semi-forest, garden, and estate. Forest coffee is grown in the southern part of the country under full-canopy forest in near-wild conditions. Semi-forest coffee is grown on large farms where the farmer has thinned-out the tree cover to allow more sunlight to reach the coffee plants. Garden coffee is coffee that is grown amongst other crops on spare land the farmer is not using for other crops. Estate coffee is grown on large plantations that are predominantly owned by the state using mainly modern agricultural methods. With the exception of a small amount of estate coffee, over 90% of all coffee in the country is grown organically. Most Ethiopian coffees are dry-processed, though around 20% of all Ethiopian coffee is wet-processed. 

 

Ethiopian coffees offer a wide array of flavors for the coffee drinker. Harar coffees are legendary for their winey wildness and fruity flavors, while Ghimbi coffees offer more balance and body. Yirgacheffe coffees are well-known for their floral and fruity brightness and rich body. Frankly, it's hard to go wrong with any good Ethiopian coffee.

 

 

Kenya
Location:	East Africa, bordered by Ethiopia (north) Somalia (east) Tanzania (south) Uganda (west) Sudan (NW).
Size:	582,646 sq km (224,961 sq mi).
Population:	34,725,000
Coffee Exports:	649,040 60-kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	October - January. Growing regions: Mount Kenya, Kasii, Nakuru

Kenya has a very large and well-organized coffee industry. Most coffee in Kenya is still grown on small farms, though some of the best coffees in the country are grown on estates. Nairobi is the center of the Kenyan coffee world, with auctions held weekly during harvest season. Coffees in Kenya are graded on size, with AA being the highest grade/largest bean, followed by A and B grades. Kenyan coffees are best known for their brightness, winey-ness,  fruitiness, and rich body.

 

Rwanda
Location:	East Africa, bordered by DRC (west) Uganda (north) Tanzania (east) Burundi (south).
Size:	26,338 sq km (10,169 sq mi).
Population:	9,200,000
Coffee Exports:	229,917 60-kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	March - July. Growing regions: Central and western parts of the country

Rwanda's coffee industry is just beginning to recover after the devastating civil war the country suffered through during the 1990's. In fact, coffee cultivation is playing an important part in the economic recovery of this tiny African nation. Coffee is almost exclusively grown on small farms in Rwanda, mainly in the central and western area of the country. Being located in East Africa, Rwanda coffee is similar to Kenyan and Tanzanian coffee; Bright and winey with fruity notes. The best Rwandan coffees are as clean and crisp as any other beans the continent has to offer.

 

Tanzania
Location:	East Africa, bordered by Kenya and Uganda (north) Rwanda, Burundi, and DRC (west) Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique (south).
Size:	939,361 sq km (362,689 sq mi).
Population:	3,627,000
Coffee Exports:	694,350 60-kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	October - February. Growing regions: Mount Kilimanjaro, Songea, high plateaus between Lakes Nyassa and Taganyika.

Tanzanian coffees are similar to Kenyan coffees in most regards. In fact, the Tanzanian coffee industry is similar to Kenya's. Coffee processing in both countries is very similar (wet-processing method), and both grade beans the same way (AA, A, B). The flavor profile of the countries' coffees is similar as well (bright, winey, fruity). Tanzania is probably best known for its peaberry coffees, which the country seems to produce in abundance. Tanzania sometimes gets over-looked in the shadow of their more-successful coffee neighbor Kenya, but they are quickly developing a reputation within the coffee industry for producing world-class coffees.

 

Uganda
Location:	East-central Africa, bordered by DRC (west) Kenya (east) Sudan (north) Tanzania (south) Rwanda (SW).
Size:	238,461 sq km (92,070 sq mi).
Population:	21,941,000
Coffee Exports:	2,368,692 60-kilo bags annually (mostly robusta).
Harvest:	October - December. Growing regions: Bigisu (for arabica)

Uganda mostly produces robusta coffee for large coffee-processing companies. It does produce a small amount of arabica beans in the Bigisu region near the Kenyan border. Bigisu coffees tend to be winey like Kenyans, though less bright and more balanced.

 

Yemen
Location:	SW tip of the Arabian Peninsula.
Size:	482,682 sq km (186,365 sq mi).
Population:	5,081,000
Coffee Exports:	unavailable.
Harvest:	November - December. Growing regions: Mattari, San'ani, Hirazi

Yemen is the only Arabian country that grows coffee. It's located just across the Red Sea from Ethiopia, so Yemeni coffees often get lumped in with those of Africa. And with good reason. Yemen coffees share many similarities to African coffees, especially those of Ethiopia. Bright, winey, fruity, nutty, spicy, musky, chocolaty, wild. All are cup traits of Yemeni coffee. The coffee term "moka" originated in Yemen. It is a port city where Yemeni coffee orginaly shipped from, not an actual growing region or coffee varietal.

Hawaii/India/Indonesia

India
Location:	Sub-continent, South Asia.
Size:	3,166,692 sq km (1,222,720 sq mi).
Population:	1,096,695,000
Coffee Exports:	2,742,952 60-kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	November - March. Growing regions: Karnataka (Mysore), Malabar, Madras

India produces a large amount of coffee. Unfortunately, most of it is robusta for large-scale coffee processing. India does produce a small amount of arabica for the specialty market. Indian coffees are usually mild and earthy, with a heavier body than most coffees. Indian might be most famous for their monsooned coffees. Musty, earthy, and heavy-bodied, monsooned coffees are an acquired taste, but a taste many coffee afficianados enjoy.

 

Hawaii
Location:	Pacific Ocean, approximately 2300 miles west from mainland U.S.
Size:	28,311 sq km (10,931 sq mi).
Population:	1,211,500
Coffee Exports:	unavailable.
Harvest:	November - March. Growing regions: Kona, Hawaii County

Hawaii is the only U.S. state that cultivates coffee. Hawaiian coffee is expensive, the best of it being very expensive. This is due largely to the amount of work and processing that goes into bringing Hawaiian coffees to market. It is also due in part to Hawaii's long-standing reputation as being a producer of superior coffees. Oh yeah, and the quality, which is outstanding. The best Hawaiian coffees come from Kona. Clean, bright, mild, rich flavor and body. The best Kona's are some of the best coffees in the world, but many other countries in the coffee-growing world have caught up to Hawaii over the past decade or so.

 

Java
Location:	Indonesia, Sunda Island Arc.
Size:	126,700 sq km (78,731 sq mi).
Population:	124,000,000
Coffee Exports:	6,081,970 60-kilo bags annually (Note: This number represents the total Indonesian coffee exports, not just coffee exports from Java.).
Harvest:	October - March. Growing regions: Most of the island

Java is an Indonesian island synonymous with coffee. Coffee from the island was imported to Europe in the 19th century in bags emblazoned with the word "Java" on them. People naturally associated coffee with "Java," and soon a synecdoche was born. Coffees from Java tend to be very heavy-bodied with low acidity, but are not usually earthy like many other Indonesian coffees. Coffees from Java are often blended with Yemeni coffees to form the historically famous Moka-Java blend. Some Java coffees are also stored in special, climate-controlled warehouses and aged for up to several years. This imparts an even heavier body and muted acidity to the coffee, as well as a mustiness (which, in this case, is good). These coffees are similar to Indian monsooned coffees.

 

Papau New Guinea
Location:	SW Pacific Ocean, eastern half of the island of New Guinea.
Size:	461,691 sq km (178,260 sq mi).
Population:	4,481,000
Coffee Exports:	1,198,917 60-kilo bags annually .
Harvest:	May - August. Growing regions: Highlands mainly.

PNG coffee is grown on the eastern half of the Indonesian island of New Guinea. Coffee is grown either on small farms and Co-ops, or on large-scale plantations. PNG coffees tend to be on the bright, sweet side with medium body and good balance. PNG coffees have traditionally been over-looked in the marketplace for a number of reasons, but the country is finally starting to gain recognition as a producer of top-grade arabica coffees.

 

Sulawesi
Location:	East Indonesia.
Size:	189,070 sq km (73,000 sq mi).
Population:	15,000,000
Coffee Exports:	6,081,970 60-kilo bags annually (Note: This number represents the total Indonesian coffee exports, not just coffee exports from Sulawesi.) .
Harvest:	May - October. Growing regions: Torojaland

Also known as Celebes, Sulawesi is another Indonesian island famous for their quality arabica coffees. Sulawesi coffees are heavy-bodied and earthy, but less so than many of their Indonesian coffee counter-parts. Sulawesi coffees tend to be more balanced and complex than other Indonesian coffees.

 

Sumatra
Location:	Indonesia, Sunda Island Arc.
Size:	473,970 sq km (183,000 sq mi).
Population:	43,309,000
Coffee Exports:	6,081,970 60-kilo bags annually (Note: This number represents the total Indonesian coffee exports, not just coffee exports from Sumatra.).
Harvest:	November - March. Growing regions: Aceh, Lake Toba, Lintong

Another well-known, coffee-growing, Indonesian island. Sumatran coffees are famous for their heavy-body, earthiness, and smoothness. Sumatran coffees are mainly dry-processed and semi-washed, though some are fully wet-processed. The different types of processing not only brings out different flavors in the cup, but a different appearance in the bean as well. Some Sumatran coffees look unattractive, but the proof is in the cup. A bad looking bean (not a defective bean, mind you) does not mean bad tasting coffee. Due to the processing techniques used in Sumatra, some beans are going to look weird. Learn to live with it, and enjoy the cuppa.

Caribbean/Central America

Costa Rica
Location:	Southern Central America bordered by Nicaragua (north) and Panama (south).
Size:	523,698 sq km (202,200 sq mi) .
Population:	4,200,000
Coffee Exports:	1,466,147 60-kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	November - March. Growing regions: Tarrazu, Tres Rio, Naranjo

Costa Rica produces some of the finest coffees in the world. Often called the "clean cup" due to many Costa Rican coffees being so well balanced and free of faults. Costa Rican coffees traditionally have a crisp brightness and complex flavors while maintaining good balance. Leave it to a tropical paradise to produce some of the world's finest coffees.

 

El Salvador
Location:	Central America, bordered by Guatemala (west) and Honduras (north and east).
Size:	21,040 sq km (8,123 sq mi ).
Population:	6,881,000
Coffee Exports:	1,279,881 60-kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	January - April. Growing regions: Santa Ana, Ahuachapan, San Miguel, Sonsonate

A small, Central American country that is finally getting back on its coffee-growing feet. El Salvador had a thriving coffee industry, which included strong contributions in advancing coffee research and agricultural methods, until the 1970's when the country fell into political turmoil. Over time, the country has stabilized, and El Salvador is once again producing top-notch coffees. El Salvadoran coffees are very balanced. The best are just good in every single aspect; body, richness, flavor, acidity, etc. Try one sometime, you won't regret it.

 

Guatemala
Location:	Northern Central America, bordered by Mexico (NW) Belize (NE), Honduras (south).
Size:	108,890 sq km (42,042 sq mi) .
Population:	12,800,000
Coffee Exports:	3,465,795 60-kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	November - March. Growing regions: Atitlan, Antigua, Coban, HueHueTenango

One of the largest producers of specialty coffee in the world. The mountainous regions and dense forests and jungles offer a wonderful environment for growing coffee. Guatemala also means variety, with several different growing regions offering several different cups. Antigua might be the most well-known region in Guatemala. The region produces full-bodied, bright coffees. HueHueTenango, the highlands area bordering Mexico, has much in common with Chiapas coffees, but usually richer and more acidy. Coffees from the Lake Atitlan tend to be more full-bodied and balanced as compared to other regions. Coban is another region which produces coffees with an island profile; light, crisp, sweet, and balanced. Guatemala has so much coffee variety that it's hard to go wrong, no matter what your tastes might be.

 

Honduras
Location:	Central America, bordered by Guatemala (west) El Salvador (south) and Nicaragua (SE).
Size:	112,492 sq km (43,278 sq mi).
Population:	7,205,000
Coffee Exports:	2,3919,10 60-kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	December - April. Growing regions: Copan, La Paz, Lempira, Santa Barbara

Historically, in spite of optimal coffee-growing conditions, Honduras has never been a large producer of coffee, especially high-quality beans. That is all beginning to change, though. Over the past decade, Honduran coffee farmers have been improving their cultivation and processing techniques in order to improve their product. This has led to a marked increase in the quality of coffee coming from the country.

 

Jamaica
Location:	Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba west of Hispaniola.
Size:	10,991 sq km (4,244 sq mi).
Population:	2,651,000
Coffee Exports:	15,301 60-kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	January - March. Growing regions: Blue Mountain area

Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is one of the most famous coffees in the world. It is what many coffee drinkers consider to be the perfect island cup; crisp, clean, sweet, light-bodied. Blue Mountain coffee is similar to Kona coffees in many regards. Blue Mountain coffee regularly fetches upwards of $20-$30/lb, retail, making it one of the most expensive coffees in the world. Is it good? Yes! Is it that good? Only you can decide that.

 

Mexico
Location:	Northern Central America, bordered by U.S (north) and Guatemala (south).
Size:	1,972,550 sq km (758,249 sq mi).
Population:	107,029,000
Coffee Exports:	1,984,807 60-kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	November - March. Growing regions: Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz

Mexico doesn't have a strong reputation within the specialty coffee industry, and that's a shame. Mexico produces some excellent coffees. Coffees from the Chiapas region are bright, clean, and fruity, similar to Costa Rican coffees but with more body. Coffees from Oaxaca Pluma region feature more nutty/chocolate flavors in the cup, with a creamier body. We here at H.T. Brown coffee are big fans of Mexican coffee.

 

Nicaragua
Location:	Central America, bordered by Honduras (north) and Costa Rica (south).
Size:	130,000 sq km (50,193 sq mi).
Population:	5,487,000
Coffee Exports:	1,002,545 60-kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	November - March. Growing regions: Matagalpa, Jinotega, Segovia

Nicaraguan coffees are only beginning to reach the cups of coffee drinkers around the world. Not as famous as many of their other Central American counter-parts, Nicaragua is working to find its coffee identity. Does that mean the country has no good coffees to offer? Of course not! Nicaraguan coffees are typically full-bodied, with moderate acidity and balance. Similar to El Salvadoran coffees in some regards.

 

Panama
Location:	Southern Central America, bordered by Costa Rica (north) and Colombia (south).
Size:	75,517 sq km (29,157 sq mi).
Population:	3,232,000
Coffee Exports:	24,546 60-kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	November - March. Growing regions: Boquette, Jaramillo, Chirqui

Panamanian coffee has been fetching record-high prices at auction in this early part of the 21st century. The main reason for this is geisha. This coffee has become some of the most sought-after beans in the world. Is it worth it? As much as a Kona or Blue Mountain coffee is. Boquete is a much better known type of coffee from Panama. Balanced and bright, with good flavor and fruity tones.

 

Puerto Rico
Location:	Caribbean Sea, east of the Dominican Republic, U.S. territory with Commonwealth Status.
Size:	9,104 sq km (3514 sq mi).
Population:	4,000,000
Coffee Exports:	not available.
Harvest:	January - March. Growing regions: Yauco.

Coffee in Puerto Rico goes by one name; Yauco Selecto. There are others, but Yauco Selecto is the flagship coffee of this tiny island. Yauco Selecto is a quality coffee, not quite demanding a price in the range of Kona or Blue Mountain coffees, but significantly higher than most other beans on the market. Yauco Selecto is an island cup; soft, crisp, sweet, mild. Since Puerto Rico is a small island, only about seventy-five thousand acres are devoted to coffee production, this area being located in the W/NW part of the island.

South America

Bolivia
Location:	South America, bordered by Brazil (north and east) Paraguay and Argentina (south) Chile and Peru (west).
Size:	1,098,581 sq km (424,163 sq mi).
Population:	9,182,000
Coffee Exports:	61,041 60-kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	May - July. Growing regions: Yungas

Despite wonderful growing conditions (mountains, plateaus, rain forests), Bolivia is just starting to produce high-quality coffees. Boliva has often lacked the resources and infrastructure to produce and process quality coffee, but, thankfully, that is all changing. The best Bolivia coffees offer coffee drinkers that classic "clean cup." Free of defects and well-balanced. Bolivia has a bright coffee growing future.

 

Brazil
Location:	South America, covers most of the eastern area of the continent.
Size:	8,514,877 sq km (3,287,597 sq mi).
Population:	186,405,000
Coffee Exports:	2,614,043,460 kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	May - July. Growing regions: Carmo de Minas, Sao Paolo, Espirito Santo, Parana

The "Coffee Giant" of the world. Brazil first started growing coffee in the early 18th century, and currently no other country in the world produces as much coffee as Brazil does. Unfortunately, most of this coffee is produced for mass production; pre-ground canned and instant coffees. However, Brazil still does produce a significant amount of specialty coffee, much of it very good. Most of the specialty coffee produced in Brazil is dry-processed, giving Brazilian beans a very unique flavor. Low on acidity, but big on body and flavor. Brazilian coffees often have berry and nutty flavors to them. Darker roasts can bring out rich chocolate flavors as well. Brazil has long had a (largely) un-justified reputation for producing only blending coffees, beans just not good enough to stand alone. That reputation is quickly falling away.

 

Colombia
Location:	South America, bordered by Panama (NW) Brazil and Venezula (east) Ecuador and Peru (south).
Size:	1,141,748 sq km (440,839 sq mi).
Population:	45,600,000
Coffee Exports:	10,871,334 60-kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	September - January. Growing regions: Huila, Popayan, Magdelena, Bucaramanga

Thanks to the Juan Valdez advertising campaign, which dates back to the 1970's, Colombia is probably the most recognizable coffee producing country in the world. Whether the country produces the worlds richest coffees is certainly up for debate, there is no doubt that Colombian coffees are a big part of the discussion. Good Colombian coffees are rich, with good body and moderate acidity. While you can certainly find tastes of fruit and chocolate in quality Colombian coffees, the flavor that best describes Colombian coffee is, well, coffee. Rich, flavorful coffee. The two main growing regions in the country are the eastern mountains (Bogata, Burcaramanga), and the central MAM region (Medillin, Armenia, Manizales).

 

Peru
Location:	South America, bordered by Ecuador and Colombia (north) Brazil (east) Bolivia and Chile (south).
Size:	1,285,216 sq km (496,222 sq mi).
Population:	27,968,000
Coffee Exports:	2,369,433 60-kilo bags annually.
Harvest:	October - March. Growing regions: Chanchamaya, Cuzco.

Peruvian coffee is grown at high altitudes in the Andes mountains. Usually organically. Peruvian coffee has a cup profile similar to Colombian coffees, but not as developed. Peru just hasn't been at it as long as Colombia has, and they have some catching up to do. This doesn't mean Peru doesn't have any good coffees to offer, because they do. Especially if you like high-quality organic coffees.