COFFEE CULTIVATION

There are specific criteria for coffee cultivation. Coffee bushes (or trees) require a balanced climate without temperature extremes, excessive sunshine, or heat. Average temperatures should range between 18 and 25 °C. The temperature must not exceed 30 °C or fall below 13 °C, as the plants cannot tolerate temperatures below 0 °C.

The water requirement is 250 to 300 mm per year, which necessitates an annual rainfall of 1500 to 2000 mm. Irrigation is required if rainfall falls below 1000 mm per year, and coffee cultivation is not possible if it falls below 800 mm per year. Robusta coffee requires higher rainfall than Arabica coffee.

Strong winds and strong sunshine are detrimental to the sensitive coffee plants, so hedges and shade trees are planted to mitigate this. The soil must be deep, loose and permeable (well “aerated”), humus-rich on the surface and neutral to slightly acidic.

Coffee-growing regions are situated between the tropics, reflecting the specific needs of the coffee varieties. Arabica coffee is grown at altitudes of approximately 600 to 1200 meters above sea level, while Robusta coffee is cultivated between 300 and 800 meters above sea level. High-altitude coffees (Arabica) are of particularly high quality. Coffee is propagated by seeds, cuttings, or grafting, but most commonly by seeds. The seeds (coffee beans) have their highest germination rate eight weeks after the fruit ripens, after which it declines. The seeds are freed from their parchment layer and sown in seedbeds. The seedlings‘ first two leaves appear after five to six weeks. The young plants are then transplanted into containers and further cultivated in nursery beds.

At eight months old, the coffee plants are planted in the plantation, spaced 1 to 4 meters apart depending on the variety. As they continue to grow, they are pruned to a height of 1.5 to 3 meters, as needed. The yield is optimal at 3 to 5 years of age and remains at its peak for 10 to 20 years, after which it declines.

Coffee is cultivated within the „coffee belt,“ a region located in the tropics that encircles the globe, generally positioned between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn (approximately 23rd parallel north and 23rd parallel south). 

Due to their strict requirements for temperature, rainfall, and soil nutrients, coffee plants are considered highly sensitive. They dislike strong winds, excessive heat, and frost. Cold temperatures can kill them. Therefore, the temperature should always be above 17°C (63°F). The soil should also retain water well.

The largest coffee-growing countries are Brazil and Ethiopia. Other coffee-producing countries include Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Kenya, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Indonesia, India, and many others. Coffee is grown in approximately 42 countries.