Coffee is one of the most beloved beverages in the world. The aroma of coffee can be encountered in every corner of countries from Asia to Europe. This is not surprising, as the list of countries with a strong coffee industry continues to grow. Below are the major coffee-producing countries in the world that every coffee lover should know.
1. Brazil
Brazil rightfully deserves to be mentioned first due to its leading coffee production globally. For over 150 years, Brazil has been the largest producer of premium coffee beans. The total area of coffee plantations in the country is about 27,000 square kilometers, primarily located in the regions of Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo, and Parana – areas with an ideal climate for the growth and development of coffee plants.
The most distinctive aspect of Brazil’s coffee production process is the dry processing method. Coffee beans are dried in natural sunlight before being processed, without washing or wet processing and fermentation as done in other countries.
2. Vietnam
Among the major coffee-producing countries, Vietnam holds the second position. Coffee is considered a staple product and has a significant share in Vietnam’s economy (ranking second after rice production). With increasing production and quality, Vietnamese coffee is favored by domestic consumers and trusted by international partners.
Vietnamese coffee is primarily grown in the Central Highlands. The climatic and soil conditions of this region are suitable for developing the highest quality coffee varieties. Not only does Vietnam produce and supply raw coffee, but its processed coffee products have also conquered some of the most demanding export markets worldwide.
Chart of countries with the highest coffee production in the world.
3. Indonesia
Indonesia is famous for its Kopi Luwak – a premium coffee produced by civets, making it one of the most expensive coffees in the world. Each year, only about 500 kilograms of this coffee are produced in Indonesia. A cup of Kopi Luwak can cost up to $80.
The coffee production in Indonesia was initially carried out by the Dutch. Today, coffee production continues to thrive due to the country’s suitable climate for coffee cultivation. Coffee plantations in Indonesia occupy about 90% of the arable land.
4. Colombia
Colombia is one of the major coffee-producing countries in the world, with a production of approximately 810,000 tons (as of 2016). Since the 1980s, the country’s coffee production has declined due to the impacts of climate change. Rising environmental temperatures and increasing rainfall are both unfavorable factors for coffee bean production in Colombia.
5. Uganda
The name Uganda may be quite unfamiliar on the global coffee map, but it is actually the largest coffee-exporting country in Central Africa. In 2015, Uganda ranked eighth in the world in coffee production. A significant portion of the Ugandan population works in the coffee industry.
6. Mexico
Mexico primarily produces high-quality Arabica coffee beans in coastal regions near the Guatemalan border. This is also the main coffee supply for the U.S. market. In the 1990s, a crisis in Mexico’s coffee production led to a sharp decline in coffee prices. However, by the 2000s, stable import demand from the United States helped the Mexican coffee market recover quickly. Today, Mexico is one of the major coffee-producing countries in the world.
Mexico primarily produces high-quality Arabica coffee beans.
7. Ethiopia
Ethiopia has ideal climatic and soil conditions for developing Arabica coffee – the most popular and premium coffee variety in the world. It is estimated that about 15 million people in this country work in the coffee production sector. The coffee varieties from Ethiopia are quite diverse. The Harar, Limu, Sidamo, and Yirgacheffe beans are all registered trademarks and protected by the Ethiopian government.
8. India
Coffee is primarily grown in the hilly regions of southern India. Coffee plants here are often intercropped with spices such as cardamom and cinnamon, giving them a distinctive spicy flavor and aroma. About 80% of India’s coffee production is exported to European and Russian markets.
9. Honduras
Coffee is a vital part of Honduras’ economy. This country is the largest coffee producer in Central America, and the coffee industry provides jobs for a significant portion of the Honduran population. During the 2009 economic crisis, coffee helped Honduras navigate global economic challenges relatively easily.
10. Guatemala
Guatemala also ranks among the major coffee-producing countries in the world. In 2016, the country’s coffee production was 204,000 tons and has remained stable in recent years. Coffee is commonly grown in areas with temperatures ranging from 16 to 32 degrees Celsius and altitudes from 500 to 5,000 meters above sea level. In Central America, Guatemala is the second-largest coffee-producing country after Honduras.
Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world, after oil. Here are the top ten countries with the highest coffee production worldwide. With its strong position as the second-largest player in the global coffee market, Vietnam has significant potential for wealth creation from this crop.
