Ever wondered exactly where your favorite java comes from? There are a special set of conditions that create happy coffee plants. Tropical climates washed by cool breezes, with rich soil and few pests, produce the optimal environment for success among top coffee-producing regions worldwide.
Peak harvesting locations roughly circle the globe around the equator. Coffee is cultivated in Asia and the Middle East; in the Caribbean and Africa; and in North, Central, and South America. It will grow at high elevation, but cannot tolerate freezing climates. Once fully established, the bushy tree of coffea arabica produces fruits for an average of 60 years, and sometimes longer, in ideal annual temperatures of 64 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Brazil tops the list of coffee producers among sovereign nations. This South American country generates about one-third of the entire world's supply, according to the International Coffee Organization, a coalition established in 1963 to strengthen the global coffee sector with support from the United Nations.
In 2019, Brazil exported more than 5.7 billion pounds of coffee beans -- far outpacing Vietnam, the second-largest producer that distributed roughly 3.6 billion pounds. From there, Colombia, Indonesia, and Ethiopia round out the top five coffee-exporting countries.
Commercial coffee production is less common in the United States. Hawaii, California, and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico are the only places with favorable conditions for growing. Kona coffee is harvested year-round on more than 700 farms in Hawaii, with the peak production season running August to December.
When sourcing beans, roasters and coffeehouses play an important role in supporting global economies, influencing sustainable farming throughout the java market, and bringing some big perspectives to your little morning latte. Begin your journey with our finest Reserve Line coffee beans, from a woman-owned microlot in Aponte, Nariño, Colombia.
