Famous Coffee Growing Regions

There are two main types of coffee grown in over 50 nations worldwide: Coffea arabica and Coffea robusta. Arabica is the more common of the two, accounting for 70% of world coffee production. Coffee made from Arabica beans is smooth and aromatic. Robusta beans are bitter, with between 150% and 200% the caffeine found in Arabica beans.

Where Arabica and Robusta grow
Arabica coffee beans grow best in high altitudes and mild temperatures. Robusta is a hardier plant. It can handle warmer temperatures and lower altitudes than Arabica, and it's also less vulnerable to pests and disease. Robusta is thus cheaper to produce, and primarily found in lower grade coffees.

The geographic regions in which Arabica and Robusta beans are grown have a significant effect on their taste. There are four primary coffee growing regions in the world:

Latin America & the Caribbean
Brazil and Colombia are two of the world's leading suppliers of coffee beans, Brazil producing 35% and Colombia 12% of the world supply. Brazilian coffee is synonymous with mild coffee.

Colombia's coffee is known for being flavorful and full-bodied. The acronym MAM refers to the coffee beans of three Colombian cities: Medellin, Armenia, and Manizales.

Africa & the Arabian Peninsula
Ethiopia was the birthplace of coffee, which derives its name from the region of Kaffa. Yemen was the country where coffee was first commercially cultivated. The Yemeni port of Mocha has also lent its name to the world's coffee vocabulary. Africa-grown coffee beans are known for their acidity and taste undertones of chocolate and fruit.

Vietnam & India
Though seldom thought of as a coffee-producing nation, Vietnam has risen to the number two position as a world supplier. Most of the coffee grown in Vietnam is low-grade Robusta.

India accounts for about 25% of Asia's coffee production. The state of Karnatka is India's most famous coffee growing region.

Indonesia
Indonesia is made up of 13,000 islands, 6,000 of them inhabited. About 90% of Indonesia's coffee crop is Robusta. The island of Java is the most famous name associated with Indonesian coffee.