An estimated 3.5 billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide every day. Climates and growing conditions must be just right to grow the most popular bean in the world. While many of the top coffee-producing nations are well-known, some may come as a surprise.
The coffee tree is a tropical evergreen shrub and grows between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Around 70 countries produce coffee, with the overwhelming majority of the supply coming from the developing countries of Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia and Ethiopia.
1. Brazil
The production of coffee has played a pivotal role in the ongoing development of Brazil and continues to be the driving force for the country's economy. The plant was first brought to Brazil in the early 18th century by French settlers. With the rise in popularity of coffee among Europeans, Brazil quickly became the world's largest producer in 1840 and has been ever since.
In 2014, Brazil produced a dizzying 2.7 million metric tons of coffee, which was over 30% of the world's production. Some 300,000 plantations are spread over more than 10,000 square miles of the Brazilian landscape.
2. Vietnam
Relatively new to the international coffee trade, Vietnam has quickly become one of the largest producers, second only to Brazil. In the 1980s, the Communist Party bet the future of the nation on coffee, and every year of the 1990s, coffee production increased by 20 to 30%, completely transforming the nation's economy. In 2014, Vietnam produced 1.65 million metric tons of coffee.
Vietnam found a niche in the international market by focusing primarily on the less-expensive robusta bean. Robusta beans can have up to twice the caffeine as arabica beans, giving coffee a more bitter taste. If you like to save money on your cup of Joe and are just looking for a caffeine jolt, there is a good chance your coffee is from Vietnam.
3. Colombia
A popular advertising campaign by the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia featuring a fictional coffee farmer named Juan Valdez helped brand Colombia as one of the most famous coffee-producing nations. Colombia is renowned for its quality coffee and produced 696,000 metric tons in 2014.
Some believe fluctuations in climate have negatively impacted the production of Colombian coffee, as temperatures and precipitation amounts increased from 1980 to 2010. Colombia is still the highest-producing nation of arabica beans, and millions worldwide prefer its mild, well-balanced flavor.
4. Indonesia
While not nearly as well-known as other nations for coffee, Indonesia's perfect location and climate have helped it become the second-largest exporter of robusta beans in the world, producing 411,000 metric tons of coffee in 2014. The Indonesian coffee industry is comprised of 1.5 million independent smallholder farms and few large-scale operations.
Indonesia produces several types of highly sought-after specialty coffees, the most interesting of which is Kopi Luwak. Harvested from the feces of Asian palm civets, the beans have a distinctive and understandably unique flavor. The process of collecting and harvesting the beans is rather intensive to say the least, and the result is one of the most expensive coffee beans in the world.
5. Ethiopia
Ethiopia's history with coffee goes all the way back to the very beginning, as the very first arabica coffee plant was found there in the ninth century. According to legend, a goat herder took notice of the plant when he realized the energizing effect it had on his herd.
The plant has since played an integral role in the development of the Ethiopian economy. Ethiopia is the largest coffee producer in Africa and produced 390,000 metric tons of coffee in 2014. Ethiopia's 1.2 million smallholder farmers contribute over 90% of production, and an estimated 15 million Ethiopians depend on the coffee industry for their livelihood.
