It seems quite simple to make a cup of coffee but have you imagined how much it is difficult to produce and what are the countries producing the most coffee in the world? It is widely liked and consumed commodity which was introduced in 15th century in Ethiopia. It is available in several colors such as Black, light brown, dark brown, white, beige and black and served in both hot and cold form but usually it is served in hot form. Although it was founded in Ethiopia yet it is produced in more than 80 countries of the world and more than 60 million people are engaged in the production of coffee. Below is the list of top 10 coffee producing countries in 2022.
- Brazil
- Veitnam
- Ivory Coast
- Indonesia
- Ethiopia
- India
- Mexico
- Guatemala
- Peru
- Honduras
To say that the American continent can boast of supremacy as a coffee producer is something unusual but very true. Closely followed by Southeast Asia and Africa, these 3 regions concentrate 70% of the cultivated grains. In these regions, the cultivation of coffee represents one of the main items on which they sustain their economy.
Coffee Production is a process of its conversion from raw plant to the finished product in the access for the consumer. Some countries of the world has made the coffee production, their major source of income, following is a list of top ten countries which are reported to be the largest coffee producers in the world and according to 2022 estimates annual production of coffee is given by country in kilo grams.
10 – Largest coffee producers: Peru
Coffee arrived in Peru in 1850, introduced by European immigrants to the Chanchamayo Valley .
Until the end of the 19th century, coffee growing in Peru was a small industry. The production was destined for national consumption and small exports to Chile.
The rise in international prices in 1887 was the trigger for Peru to become an exporter of coffee to Germany, England and Chile.
In 1930 English capitals consolidated the Chanchamayo region as the most important in coffee production in Peru .
Currently , coffee is the main agricultural export product of Peru along with asparagus.
Today, coffee in Peru is grown in the inter-Andean valleys and in the eastern mountain range of the Andes, on its border with the Amazon rainforest.
The main cultivated varieties are Typica, Bourbón, Pache, Caturra and Catimor, that is to say, Arabigo varieties.
So the coffee is of excellent quality when it is grown above 1600 meters above sea level.
90% of Peruvian coffee crops grow under shade. These characteristics have made Peru recognized for the quality of its high altitude coffees.
It is a smallholding crop that is currently being carried out by 150,000 Peruvian producers on about 330,000 hectares.
Peru produces 4.3 million bags annually (258 thousand MT) and ranks second worldwide as a producer and exporter of organic coffee .
Today it has good varieties of coffee and coffee growers, along with agronomists, roasters and baristas, continue to fight to position high quality origin coffees.
9 – Largest coffee producers: Mexico
Coffee arrived in Mexico at the end of the 18th century, just as it was about to win its independence. It entered through the port of Veracruz, finally establishing itself in this state and in Chiapas, the states with the best environmental offer for cultivation.
Later it would also reach the States of Oaxaca, Puebla and Guerrero.
Since then, coffee has been tattooed in the idiosyncrasy of the inhabitants of the Sierra Mexicana. So much so that many of them believe that coffee is an ancestral product, like corn or chocolate.
However, the tenth place is new for Mexican producers, who have been implementing the crop modernization plans for years that have allowed them to be on this list.
During the 19th century, the expansion of crops occurred in large coffee plantations. There the peasants had to work in unworthy conditions, not to say almost slavery.
From the colony to Independence
Upon achieving independence, the sharecroppers of the large estates became free peasants who owned their small plots.
In this way, commercial production in large plantations gave way to a subsistence crop that continues to this day.
It was not until the early 20th century that Mexico began to experience its greatest coffee boom.
He was concerned about innovating in processes of plant improvement, modernization of crops and roasting .
This allowed the emergence of indigenous coffee brands of excellent quality.
However, during the second half of the same century, many foreign roasting houses arrived in the country and little by little, they have been displacing national companies.
Today these companies dominate the market, producing low-quality coffee blends that do not do justice to the best Mexican coffee .
But Mexico continues forward, struggling to recover its coffee tradition and the quality of its coffee.
Mexico produces annually 4.5 million bags (270 thousand tons) that represent 1.7% of world coffee production.
8 – Largest coffee producers: Uganda
The influence of Lake Victoria makes the climate in Uganda favorable for coffee cultivation. The influence of the lake allows to maintain throughout the year, temperatures between 20 and 30 ° C.
They also have two rainy seasons that favor concentrated blooms and harvests.
In Uganda, coffee was already cultivated before the arrival of the Arabs.
“European explorers in the 19th century found Robusta-type wild coffee plants, semi-cultivated in a strip that ran from West Africa to Lake Victoria.”
The local tribes chewed the grains as medicine but did not make any type of infusion from them.
The harvest of the grains was done as a social and spiritual ritual. The harvested grains were offered as sacrifices to some of their deities.
Only at the beginning of the 20th century did the first Arabian coffee seeds enter Uganda through Entebbe, the region where the British government had its headquarters.
From 1912 until today, the largest Arabian coffee production in Uganda comes from crops established on the slopes of Mount Elgon, the western part of the Nile, and the Rwenzori Mountains.
The mild Arabica coffee washed from the slopes of Mount Elgón is known as a high quality origin coffee called Bugiso that has been described as the Ugandan “Blue Mountain”.
The rest of the coffee producing areas of Uganda produce lower quality Robustas coffees. In fact, Uganda is recognized as a producer of Robustas, as its production volumes of Arabigos are very low.
Ugandan Robusta coffee is characterized by its neutral taste and full body. This makes it ideal for mixing.
Uganda’s coffee crops are very small. They do not exceed a hundred trees for each coffee grower. However, this does not prevent Uganda from producing annually between 4.9 and 5.1 million bags equivalent to 306 thousand tons of grain .
Coffee exports represent 30% of national exports.
7- Largest coffee producers: India
Legend has it that in the 16th century a holy man named Baba Budam made a long journey to bring 7 fertile coffee beans from Yemen.
This adventure could well cost him his life since in Yemen it was forbidden to export coffee seeds.
Baba Budam introduced these seeds in the State of Karnataka in the Southwest of the country. Specifically in Chikmagalur, where to this day 65% of Indian coffee is produced .
Today the coffee growing area of India is concentrated in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, where coffee plantations grow under the thick shade of the trees.
Indian coffee growing falls on 250,000 small producers who own plots of less than 2 hectares.
The largest Indian coffee production corresponds to Robusta varieties. However, some producers today opt for high quality coffees.
Thus, they have established Arabica coffee crops and have managed to market Microlots of high quality specialty coffees directly with the buyer .
These specialty coffees from the state of Karnataka are characterized by their subtle flavor, medium to full body, and very characteristic moderate acidity.
They display spicy notes of cardamom, cloves, pepper, nutmeg and sometimes tropical fruits.
India produces annually between 5.2 and 5.8 million bags , which corresponds to 3.6% of world production. 80% of this coffee is exported mainly to Europe, Japan and the Middle East.
Monzón coffee
As a curious fact, India also produces a coffee called Café de Monzón.
It is a coffee that after having been washed and dried, they store in large silos that they leave open at the top so that the winds of the monsoon season can moisten it.
These coffees can remain in silos for up to three years before going on sale. Thus they achieve a sweeter coffee, with woody and earthy notes, low acidity and heavy body.
This coffee is desired by some roasters to add depth to blends intended for making espresso.
6 – Largest coffee producers: Ethiopia
Just as Africa is considered the cradle of man, Ethiopia is also pointed out as the place of origin of the coffee tree.
Legend has it that in Abyssinia (Name given to Ethiopia), a goat herder named Kaldí observed that his animals had an exalted behavior after having consumed some red fruits from a small bush.
The shepherd collected a few fruits and took them to a monk at a nearby abbey to see if he could recognize them and find out why his goats had gone crazy consuming them.
The abbot saw nothing in particular in the fruits, but tried to make an infusion by adding the whole cherries to the boiling water.
When he drank it, he noticed that its taste was not pleasant and threw the infusion with everything and cherries to the embers. And it was there when the miracle happened …
The cherries in contact with the flames let out all the aroma of toasted almonds.
The abbot baptized these grains as Kaaba , which means a brown gemstone.
Since then, coffee almonds have been roasted to make the delicious drink we know today.
Coffee production in Ethiopia
Ethiopia produces 7.6 million bags of coffee beans annually , which represents 4.46% of the world total.
Specifically, the Harrar and Sidamo regions are renowned for the quality of their grains. This coffee exhibits full body, a strong earthy flavor, and an intense / spicy aroma with a hint of chocolate.
The taste of the different African varieties of coffee varies from one area to another. And its production follows a centuries-old process passed from generation to generation.
In this culture, its consumption as a social ritual is linked to coexistence, hospitality and respect for the visitor.
5 – Largest coffee producers: Honduras
For the second consecutive year, Honduras remains the 5th world producer. Displacing Ethiopia and India in the ranking, countries that have traditionally occupied this position.
Honduran coffee stands out for its fruity aromas and light acidity.
The high altitude at which the crops are located (the average altitude of the country is more than 1000 m) favors these two characteristics.
Regarding the type of coffee, the Honduran production is 100% Arabica, being Típyca and Bourbon its most recognized varieties.
It should be noted that Honduran plantations are grown under shade. A type of cultivation much more respectful with the environment than cultivation in the sun, which has a greater impact on soils and ecosystems.
Despite having increased its production since the 1970s, during 2018 revenues were much lower.
This is due to the low price of coffee , which has had a negative impact on a large number of coffee families , not only in Honduras, but in all the Arabian producing countries.
Annual coffee production in Honduras for the 2018/2109 season is estimated at 8.3 million bags.
4 – Largest coffee producers: Indonesia
Considered the 4th world producer of coffee, its annual production reaches 660,000 tons (7.46%).
Here the coffee tree was introduced to Jakarta (formerly Batavia) by the Dutch during the 17th century.
The consolidation of this product occurred after World War II, in the 17,508 islands of the largest archipelago known to date.
Beyond the prohibitive Kopi Luwak or Civeta coffee , Indonesian beans are divided between robusta, libérica and arabica.
The areas of Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi, despite having an irregular production due to climatic phenomena, concentrate 80% of the crops.
The best known methods for its processing are:
- Washing (PTP coffees) and
- Semi-washed (Giling Basah), something similar to the so-called Honey coffee .
Indonesian coffee is characterized by its great body, herbal aroma, delicious flavor, and low acidity. Depending on the area, it can have hints of smoked, chocolate and spices.
In Java you get the famous “Old Coffee”, an aged variety with more sweetness than acidity.
Indonesia produces 11.5 million bags of coffee beans annually .
3 – Largest coffee producers: Colombia
Renowned for its mild washed Arabica coffee, this South American country has very favorable climatic conditions and a long tradition in the production of high quality coffee.
The annual harvest of Colombian coffee growers is 840 thousand tons per year . One of its greatest marketing advantages is that it has ports on both oceans.
The Andean zone in its three mountain ranges, eastern, central and western is considered the most favorable for cultivation, due to its volcanic soils, its temperate climate and altitudes that range from 1,300 to 2,800 meters above sea level.
The exquisiteness of its best varieties and specialty coffees is indisputable, being classified in degrees of quality .
The supreme represents the coffee with the largest beans and is distinguished by its strong aroma and delicate sweetness. They are followed by the extra and the sublime (softer and more acidic).
In addition to their appellations of origin registered in the EU, the most recognized Colombian brands bear the names of the regions, farms or communities that produce them.
These coffees are of high quality and some of them are classified as origin coffees .
Thus, you can taste a Sierra Nevada coffee, a Nariño coffee and many others full of flavor, aroma and tradition.
Colombia is the third largest coffee producer in terms of volume, but continues to hold the first place worldwide as a producer of mild washed Arabica coffee.
2 – Largest coffee producers: Vietnam
Known as the 2nd largest coffee producer, it is impressive to think that this achievement was barely conceived in 30 years .
The coveted drink came to Vietnam through the French, when this area was called French Indochina. After World War II and under a communist regime, the coffee tree would play a fundamental role in the recovery of this nation.
The installation of a large number of cooperatives has driven an annual production growth of 30% since 1990.
While in 1994 60% of the population was below the poverty line, in 2014 it was only 10%.
Although efforts are being made to introduce the arabica bean, most of the plantations grow robusta.
1 – Largest coffee producers: Brazil
Brazilians can boast of being the largest coffee producers , with an annual production of 2,594,100 tons.
Although this represents 30% of the total worldwide, its varieties do not stand out for the quality they display.
In this country, only 20% of the crops are Arabica varieties and the remaining 80% correspond to Robusta coffee.
Arabica coffee is grown in the State of Minas Gerais while Conilones (Robustas) are grown in the State of Espírito Santo.
Its export products include the ” Bourbon Santos del puerto” homonymous in Sao Paulo. This coffee has a fruity flavor and higher acidity than other presentations.
Also noteworthy is Rio coffee , produced dry and whose distinctive bouquet is produced by a microorganism.
Today Minas Gerais coffee growers have managed to position coffee brands such as “Sur de minas”, “Cerrado mineiro”, “Mogiana” and “Zona de Mata”, of very good quality.
For 150 years, Brazil has been the king of coffee exports and given its climate and the size of its country, it is very likely that it will remain so for many years to come.
Brazilian and Vietnamese coffee production accounts for 50% of world coffee exports.
Emerging countries in the coffee market
Although we have just given you an updated list with data from May 2019 of the 10 largest coffee producing countries in the world, you will see how quickly it changes.
The volumes of coffee production in each country and in the world coffee market are constantly changing due to various factors.
Thus, from year to year we will see how some countries climb positions while others lose them.
The international price of coffee and the new markets negatively or positively stimulate coffee production in each country.
The price of coffee in the stock market and the economic policies of each country lead coffee producers to decide whether to increase or decrease their planting areas.
The current coffee price crisis is forcing many coffee producers to eliminate their crops and seek other production alternatives that may be more profitable.
This is the case in countries like Ivory Coast and El Salvador.
In other cases, some countries may be looking in the midst of this crisis for a business opportunity and fill the void of those who leave the market. This is the case in China.
The Bi-annual nature of coffee plants affects the annual production volumes.
The bi-annuity is a physiological characteristic of the coffee tree. Makes coffee plants have a high production year followed by a low production year.
This phenomenon is more marked in some coffee-producing regions such as Brazil.
For this year 2019, a decrease of 17.4% in the production of coffee in Brazil has already been announced compared to the production of 2018 due to the effects of the bi-annuality.
In 2018, Brazil had the highest coffee production in its history, reaching 61.7 million bags.
This increase coincided with the year of high production of the plants and a climate that favored blooms and fruit set.
Climate behavior affects coffee production
In several of our articles we have already commented how coffee production depends on blooms. And as the blooms depend on the weather.
Thus, the annual volume of coffee harvested in each country is a reflection of the climatic conditions that have arisen during the immediately preceding year.
Returning to the example of Brazil, the decrease in coffee production for 2019 is also related to:
- Adverse weather conditions in the state of Espirito Santo.
- A decrease in the area planted in Robusta varieties in the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais.
- 8.7% of the coffee growing area has been renewed, meaning that the plants are growing and have not yet entered into production.
Although we have set out the situation in Brazil here as an example, the same is true in all producing countries.
For this reason, from year to year, the Top 10 of coffee producing countries changes.
So we want to mention some of the countries that do not appear in the first places of the Top 10 but that in the near future could come to gain positions.
Guatemala
The tenth place is fought with Peru. In 2018, it produced 3.4 million bags equivalent to 204 thousand tons.
In 1859 Guatemala made its first export of coffee and by 1880 coffee represented 80% of Guatemalan exports.
Today coffee only represents 8.5% of the country’s exports.
The coffee growing areas have moved to the highlands and the producers are mostly indigenous, organized through cooperatives.
Currently Guatemala faces a difficult scenario for coffee production not only due to low international prices of the bean.
But also due to a low development of technological innovation as regards the cultivation of coffee.
This means that Guatemalan producers have very low levels of sustainability and competitiveness in the market.
And that it has lost its tenth place within the Top of producing countries.
However, the National Coffee Association ANACAFÉ continues to work on the development and transfer of technology. And in the positioning of high-quality origin coffees.
In this way, it has managed to get some Asian countries to bet on Guatemalan coffee.
And that they pay a better price for it, compared to the price paid by the United States, its main buyer.
These efforts, together with strategies to generate added value to the bean and the promotion of robusta coffee plantations in the warmer areas of the country, could lead Guatemala to regain its position as one of the main coffee producing countries in the world.
China
We are not surprised that the Asian giant wants to gain positions as a coffee producing country.
China is showing a significant increase in domestic coffee consumption although its traditional drink is tea.
And it could, like Japan, become a major coffee consumer in a short time.
It currently produces 1.94 million bags (116 thousand tons) and its main export destination is Germany, which consumes 40% of the production.
FAO statistics show that China doubles its coffee production every 5 years.
So by 2020 it is estimated that it could reach 14th place on the list of coffee producing countries.
Yunaan is the main Arabica coffee producing province in China.
The Yunaan government has allocated resources of 480 million dollars for investment in the coffee industry, which will be used for research, improvement of soils and crops in the next 10 years.
The short-term goal is to produce 4 million bags of coffee by 2020.
Kenya
Kenya currently produces 0.83 million bags (50 thousand MT) and ranks 16th on the list of producing countries.
Unlike Côte d’Ivoire, where the current government policy is to eradicate coffee and cocoa growing areas, Kenya continues to bet on strengthening its coffee sector.
For this, it has decided to learn from countries like Colombia, in order to integrate coffee production with historical heritage, social organization through micro-cooperatives and tourism.
It is estimated that there are 700 thousand coffee producers and 160 thousand hectares planted. Most are small crops of just a thousand plants.
Small coffee farmers in Kenya continue to work to position their recognized specialty coffees around the world.
And to sell them directly to the final buyer outside the central state auction mechanism, where they do not have direct control over the negotiations.
Papua New Guinea
Papua managed to increase its coffee production by 65% between the years of 2015 and 2016.
It currently produces between 800 thousand and 1.2 million bags of coffee. About 50 thousand tons.
Although Indonesia has managed to overshadow it in terms of production volume, Papua coffee continues to stand out for its quality.
In addition, Papua has very favorable climatic conditions for growing coffee.
It is estimated that Papua could continue to climb positions within the high-quality coffee markets if:
- It works to improve the road infrastructure to make the export of the product more profitable.
- Applies appropriate technology to achieve effective control of the coffee berry borer.
- and maintains consistency in the quality of its coffee, betting on certified coffees .
Papua New Guinea specialty coffee is prized for its sweet aroma and flavor, with hints of apricot, raspberry, green apples, caramel and plum, and for having a characteristic floral acidity.
Venezuela
In the past, Venezuela was a great coffee producer.
It made its first export in 1784 and, as in Colombia, coffee production promoted the economic development of the country.
In 1918 it ranked third as a coffee producer worldwide but from 1920 its production began to decline.
In 1933 it had already dropped to eighth place within the producing countries and today it shares the 26th place together with Thailand.
However, today it is committed to an economic policy to reactivate the coffee industry.
With 207,000 productive hectares and a 63,000-hectare renovation plan to be completed between 2019-2025, Venezuela hopes to produce 1 million bags of coffee again, a level that reached ten years ago.
Challenges of the countries that produce the most coffee
These are the 10 most important coffee producing countries in the world and some of the emerging countries in the coffee industry.
However, in addition to its characteristics, export volume and cultivated varieties, there are some other information that you should know about the coffee market.
The coffee industry is supported by 125 million people who work hard 7 days a week. However, you must understand that the average salary for coffee growers does not usually exceed the average of € 255 per month.
The producers generate a total trade of 170 billion euros per year, but obtain a profit of less than 10%.
The fight for fairer trade is difficult, but we can all contribute to improving the conditions of those most affected.
On the other hand, the use of fossil fuels, deforestation and uncontrolled consumerism are leading the planet into an emergency situation.
Climate change is already affecting coffee producers around the world, with experts estimating that by 2050 half of the world’s coffee growing area could be lost.
List of Top Ten Coffee Producing Countries in the world 2022
| Rank |
Country |
Production
(Kilo Grams) |
| 1. |
 Brazil |
2,550,720,009 |
| 2. |
 Vietnam |
900,000,000 |
| 3. |
 Ivory Coast |
696,000,000 |
| 4. |
 Indonesia |
411,000,000 |
| 5. |
 Ethiopia |
330,000,000 |
| 6. |
 India |
300,300,000 |
| 7. |
 Mexico |
270,000,000 |
| 8. |
 Guatemala |
240,000,000 |
| 9. |
 Peru |
210,000,000 |
| 10. |
 Honduras |
162,000,000 |
Question of the day
[box type=”note” style=”rounded”]Q : Did you know what country produces the most coffee in the world?[/box]
Ans : More than 80 countries are producing coffee in the world, but Brazil is the largest producer in the world as compared to the other countries of the world. Brazil is officially recognized as Federative Republic of Brazil and it is one of the most religious countries around the globe. It has huge number of oil reserves in the world so it is one of the largest oil-producing nations . Brazil is given the seventh rank due to its largest mango production all over the globe.
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