| What variety is it and where do all these exotic | | | | areas including Brazil where the plantations cover |
| tasting beans grow? | | | | huge areas of agricultural land and employ |
| Let's take a quick tour. | | | | hundreds of workers. In Colombia the coffee |
| The African country of Ethiopia is where Coffee | | | | trees are grown in very rugged terrain in the high |
| growing first originated. Today it is hard to | | | | mountains where it is carried out by pack mules. |
| imagine that the country's main coffee plantations | | | | In Hawaii coffee is mostly planted on the slopes |
| still consist of mainly wild coffee tree forests just | | | | of the Mauna Loa volcano which is situated about |
| like it was when it was first discovered centuries | | | | 20 degrees north of the equator. As you would |
| ago. | | | | imagine the black volcanic ash is extremely fertile |
| From these humble beginnings coffee bean | | | | and perfect for growing the famed Kona coffee |
| production and consumption has spread like wild | | | | plants. The strong afternoon sun is softened by |
| fire throughout the world. In the twenty-first | | | | tropical clouds and frequent showers of rain. |
| century coffee has grown to become the second | | | | Since the Dutch colonists introduced coffee to |
| largest international market globally, second only | | | | Indonesia in the 17th century, this collection of |
| to oil in dollar value terms. | | | | islands has slowly increased it's production and |
| Coffee is grown in over 70 countries around the | | | | exports to become the third largest producer in |
| world which are specifically located in tropical and | | | | the world. A multitude of small one to two acre |
| sub-tropical agricultural regions. Climate dictates | | | | farms make up the bulk of producers thriving on |
| where it can be grown for the simply reason the | | | | the warm, tropical micro-climates, which is ideal |
| plants need plenty of sunshine and rain. From a | | | | for growing quality coffee. |
| narrow band centred on the equator of around 23 | | | | Mexico also produces and exports a significant |
| degrees north to 25 degrees south comes all of | | | | amount of coffee beans that are grown by a |
| the world's production of beans that produce the | | | | multitude of small farmers. Most plantations are |
| beverage of which a Turkish proverb describes as | | | | located to the south of the country in Veracruz, |
| 'black as hell, strong as death, sweet as love'. | | | | Oaxaca and Chiapas. |
| Brazil is by far the largest producer of coffee | | | | In the mid-19th century the French missionaries |
| beans in the world with an average output of | | | | established small plantations of the robusta coffee |
| 28% of the total annual international yield. The | | | | plants in Vietnam. From these small beginnings the |
| second largest producer is the world renowned | | | | industry has grown to massive proportions where |
| Columbia which produces 16%. Other major | | | | today the size of the country's coffee production |
| producers are Indonesia producing 7% and Mexico | | | | now rivals Indonesia. |
| with 4%. | | | | This is only a brief overview of the major |
| Throughout the history of its cultivation, coffee | | | | producers for coffee varieties around the world |
| trees have been grown at high altitudes because | | | | with many other countries now venturing into this |
| they produce the best quality beans. However the | | | | profitable export commodity. |
| plant has also adapted well to a wide variety of | | | | Enjoy! |