Coffee is one of South America’s largest and most well-known exports, and the continent produces the vast majority of the coffee drank worldwide.
The history and production of coffee in South America is truly fascinating!
Especially since many of these countries export more coffee than they consume.
Here I will share facts about coffee farms in South America.
By Mila.
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South America Has the Ideal Climate for Coffee Production
Latin America produces the majority of the coffee drank worldwide.
And the weather and soil characteristics & quality is a big reason for that.
With their moderate sunshine and rain, 70–80-degree temperatures, and rich, porous soil, Latin American countries provide an ideal coffee-growing environment.
Extending 4,750 miles (7,640 km) from Colombia to the tip of Chile, the wide range of geographic regions provides the climate of South America with a huge variety, from the Antarctic conditions of Patagonia in southern Argentina to the tropical weather of the Amazon basin.
Latin American countries currently produce the majority of the coffee consumed worldwide, with Colombia and Brazil leading the way. Arabica and Robusta beans are grown throughout all of South America.
Brazil accounts for about one-third of all coffee produced on the continent.
Brazil: The Largest Producer of Coffee in The World
Brazil is a vast country, and is the world’s greatest coffee grower, with coffee plantations covering around 27,000 square kilometers.
The majority of these coffee farms are in Minas Gerais, but many other states also produce a lot of coffee in Brazil, such as Paraná and São Paulo, which also have ideal climates for growing coffee.
Unlike many other coffee-producing countries, Brazil uses the dry technique, which entails drying the coffee beans in the sun (or artificially with mechanical dryers) rather than washing them.
Colombia is the 3rd biggest producer of coffee in the world
Colombia has approximately 875,000 hectares of coffee spread in 590 cities and 14 coffee-growing regions.
On average, 75 percent of the country’s output is exported globally, with the crop accounting for 10-16 percent of agricultural GDP.
Surprisingly, the majority of Colombian production comes from small farms: 60% of Colombian coffee producers cultivate less than one hectare of coffee, while only 5% have more than 20 hectares.
In Colombia, coffee is processed popularly both in wet-processed (also known as washed) or dry processed.
The Centre for Coffee Research (Cenicafé) has designed an ecological system that consumes very little water, eliminates contamination of local water sources by 90%, and reduces water usage by 95%.
In parts of Colombia, the drying method is unique: small-holder farmers spread the parchment across the flat roofs of their houses to dry in the sun.
South American Coffee Flavor is Unique in Every Country
The different coffee growing countries around the world vary in climate, soil and also in coffee tastes. And each country in South America has a unique flavor to their coffee!
Brazilian Coffee
Brazilian coffee is known to taste sweet, with caramel undertones.
It also tastes nutty, low in acidity, smooth-bodied, with bittersweet and chocolate overtones due to its primarily low growing altitudes.
Colombian Coffee
Colombian coffee contrasts to Brazil for its high-altitude coffee estates.
These estates produce a coffee with medium acidity, full body, with rich, caramel-like sweet taste.
Peruvian Coffee
Peruvian coffee is smooth and mellow, with a light body and little acidity.
A good Peruvian coffee is mildly acidic, fragrant, and tasty.
Costa Rican Coffee
Costa Rican coffee has a wide range of flavor qualities that vary depending on where it is cultivated.
The resulting coffee can be described as fruity, chocolatey, and sweet. Costa Rican coffee has a particular flavor that is difficult to imitate.
Overall, South American coffee is similar to Central American coffee in that it is:
- Moderate and light
- More sweet and less acidic (with some nutty overtones)
- More chocolatey and caramelly
Is Coffee Native to South America?
Although South America is the largest producer of coffee in the world, coffee was discovered in Africa.
Coffee’s origins can be traced back to the 15th century in Africa.
Coffee grown around the world can be traced back centuries to old coffee woods on the Ethiopian plateau.
Legend has it that the goat herder Kaldi recognized the potential of these treasured beans there.
Then coffee started traveling throughout the world. Coffee history in South America dates back to the 18th century, when it was first introduced in the Caribbean.
Brazil had become the world’s largest single producer of coffee by the mid-nineteenth century.
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Photo by Samer Daboul
