World’s Top Producing Coffee Countries: The Coffee Belt
Between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, you’ll find the “Coffee Belt,'' where the majority of the world’s coffee is grown.
The culture, growing methods, landscape and habitats of each continent, all contribute to the flavor notes of their coffee.
Latin America
The Americas supply the majority of the world’s coffee beans, but the range of those bean exports vary immensely.
The hot and humid climate as well as the bursts of rain and moderate sunshine that occur throughout the year make Latin America ideal for growing coffee. In fact, there are only six Latin American countries who do not export coffee.
Top Coffee Producing Countries in Latin America
- Brazil (top producing country worldwide)
- Columbia
- Honduras
- Mexico
Common Latin American Coffee Flavor Notes
- Nuts
- Cocoa
- Soft Spices
Africa
Being the second largest continent, Africa has a wide variety of growing regions for coffee crops. With Ethiopia being recognized as the birthplace of coffee, African coffees have a high standard for quality and uniqueness.
Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, and Tanzania are a few other examples of large established coffee exporters. All of these countries have their own varied growing techniques and harvesting processes which help to cultivate a diverse selection.
Top Coffee Producing Countries in Africa
Common African Coffee Flavor Notes
- Citrus
- Berries
- Spices
- Floral aromas
Asia/Oceania
As folklore would have it, Asian coffee culture began in the 1600s when a man named Baba Budan was returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca and stopped for a visit in the port city of Mocha in Yemen.
Being in the world’s leading coffee hub at the time, Bada Budan wanted to smuggle this delicious drink with him as it was forbidden for green coffee beans to leave Arabia.
The story goes that he taped coffee beans onto his stomach and journeyed back to India where he planted the beans in a small hill town. From there, production took off rapidly and spread significantly during the years of European colonialization.
The dense jungles of the area enabled the growth of arabica and robusta under the shade, which helped contribute to the coffee plant’s unique flavor.
Top Coffee Producing Countries in Asia/Oceania
- Vietnam (2nd largest worldwide)
- Indonesia
- India
- China
- Papua New Guinea
Common Asian/Oceania Coffee Flavor Notes
- Full-bodied
- Smooth
- Herbal
- Earthy Flavors
Final Thoughts
Delicious coffees are produced all across the world and our signature blends and single origin coffees are sourced using only the best beans we can find!
