Largest Coffee Producing Countries in the World

Although coffee is grown in over 70 countries, most of the world’s coffee is produced in these five countries. Even though these countries produce the most coffee, smaller countries can produce excellent coffee. This country is renowned for growing high-quality Arabica and for using cultivation techniques that date back more largest producer of coffee in the world than two centuries. It produces over 750,000 metric tonnes of coffee which is then exported around the globe. While they import a lot of coffee from Vietnam, China also exports a decent amount of coffee as well. Yunnan is the dominating region that produces over 95% of China’s total coffee production, which has a similar climate to South American countries.

The Coffee Roasting Process

Although much of the largest coffee has been grown in the territory for over 100 years, production skyrocketed throughout the 90s after the communist regime introduced various economic reforms. The nation separates its identity from the majority of other nations that produce coffee by drying the Arabica coffee cherries instead of washing them. Chanchamayo and Cajamarca are key regions in Peru known for cultivating Arabica beans with vibrant acidity and complex flavors. Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi are famous for producing high-quality Arabica and Robusta beans with distinct flavor profiles. Robusta beans have a higher caffeine content compared to Arabica and are usually cheaper to cultivate. Robusta is named after its robust properties and resistance to spoilage which makes it ideal for use in instant coffees.

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1. Robusta beans are indigenous to Uganda and primarily grow in the Lake Victoria area.
2. Indonesian first coffee plantations were established in Java back in the 1600s, which made this country the first coffee producing nation outside of Arabia and Africa.
3. Several research missions and studies have located new wild species that grow off the Cote d’Ivoire coast and in certain parts of Sierra Leone for famous coffee producing nations.
4. There is significant potential here, as the country produces Arabica beans to grow coffee in the shade, with only a small portion of crops reserved for Robusta.
5. Mostly farmed in three states in the southern area, the region Karnataka is responsible for nearly 65% of all coffee produced in India.

In this infographic series, Al Jazeera visually presents the coffee production process, outlines the various types of coffee and showcases the top coffee-producing nations around the world. Located in West Africa, Ivory Coast is a major exporter of coffee in Africa and a huge part of the country’s economy. Ivory Coast coffee is often called Cote D’Ivoire coffee due to its history with French colonization. Unfortunately, the overall coffee production has steadily declined over the decades. Coming in second to Ethiopia in coffee production, Uganda’s number one exported crop is coffee. Introduced from Ethiopia, Uganda has a lot of mixed-crop farms that grow Arabica beans alongside other crops.

Each of the aforementioned largest coffee producers encompasses the Bean Belt, which is the geographic region that sits between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer. This decline in coffee prices and production led to lost income and social issues throughout the nation of Mexico. In 2020, the world produced about 10.7 million metric tonnes of coffee beans according to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization. There are two main types of coffee beans used in commercial coffee production – Arabica and Robusta.

Brazil is the highest coffee producing country in the world with 2,993,780 tonnes of coffee in the year 2023. Vietnam, with 1.8 million tonnes, is the world’s second-largest coffee producer followed by Colombia (830,000 tonnes), Indonesia (770,000 tonnes) and Ethiopia (580,000 tonnes). Brazil is the world’s largest producer of coffee, producing about one-third of global supply. Today, over 50 countries greatly depend on the coffee industry with Brazil being by far the biggest producer overall and Vietnam being the first in terms of Robusta coffee production.

Uganda

Although it wasn’t always a coffee country, each year, the amount of coffee produced in China seems to rise. Honduras has floated around the list of top coffee-producing countries, sometimes getting up to 5th place. Coffee is grown in multiple regions of Honduras, though the high elevations in the mountains produce the best-tasting coffee beans.

Colombia

For several years beginning in 2008, Colombian coffee crops were hit by a leaf disease known as coffee rust. Output plummeted but has since rebounded as the country replaced trees with rust-resistant varieties. Colombia ranks second in Arabica production, and millions worldwide prefer their mild, well-balanced flavor. Another known fact is that Mexico remains one of the largest exporters of organic coffee, with nearly 10% of all producers working on it.

Uganda is one of Africa’s leading coffee producers, known for its robusta beans, which thrive in the country’s tropical climate and fertile soils. While robusta is the dominant variety, Uganda also produces high-quality arabica beans in the mountainous regions, such as Mount Elgon and the Rwenzori Mountains. Ugandan coffee is valued for its rich, earthy flavors with hints of chocolate and spice, making it popular in various espresso blends. Vietnam is the second-largest coffee producer in the world, known primarily for its robusta beans, which make up the majority of the country’s coffee production. The central highlands region, particularly the provinces of Đắk Lắk, Lâm Đồng, and Gia Lai, is the heart of Vietnam’s coffee industry with its rich soil and ideal climate.

Countries with the Lowest GDP

1. From Ethiopia’s rich history to Brazil’s huge farms, these countries are world leaders in coffee production, offering many different kinds of tastes.
2. The nation grows both Robusta beans – a crop native to the Kibale forest area – as well as Arabica beans from nearby Ethiopia.
3. This decline in coffee prices and production led to lost income and social issues throughout the nation of Mexico.
4. Arabica and Robusta beans dominate this country’s niche, growing at elevations between 1500 to 5000 feet.
5. As a nation, it is singlehandedly capable of producing almost 40% of the entire world’s supply.

The volume of capital sales per capita in the Netherlands totaled 8.11 kilograms, followed by Finland and Denmark, which saw 7.99 kg and 6.88 kilograms. It may contain citric acid, malic acid (fruity in flavor) or even quinic acid from stale coffee, which gives us stomach aches. Specifically, Karnataka coffee farming accounts for up to 65 percent of the total production. This country honed in on a niche in the international market by primarily focusing on Robusta beans instead of Arabica coffee, which is less expensive.

Arabica beans are 95-95% of the total amount produced, which are grown in the shade and produce a unique taste from the cooler temperatures. Colombia is a strong competitor in the coffee exportation industry, usually producing over 800,000 metric tons of coffee. They produce some of the best-tasting coffee in the world, with farming regions at high and low altitudes to create a wide variety of coffee flavor profiles. Since Colombia has been farming coffee for over 200 years, the methods of producing high-quality beans are near-perfect. Indonesia’s location and climate have helped it become the third-largest producer of robusta beans in the world. Total production, including Robusta and Arabica, is 8.15 million 60-kilogram bags in the 2023–2024 marketing year.

Its ideal growing conditions, characterized by volcanic soil, high altitudes, and a mild climate, make regions like Antioquia, Caldas, and Tolima key coffee-producing areas. Colombian coffee is celebrated for its smooth, balanced flavor with bright acidity, making it a favorite among coffee enthusiasts globally. Brazil’s geographic location means it is a great place to cultivate coffee with the Bean Belt encompassing almost the entire nation. Their coffee is grown across 10 specific regions throughout the country, they are situated in the north, central belt and south of the country.