Coffees of the world

There are over 50 countries where coffee beans are grown, but the majority of commercially available coffees come from a few very industrialized countries that have not only perfect growing conditions, but also keep a consistent flavor to their beans through mass-farming and quality control methods.

In Eastern Africa and the Middle East, the coffee is widely considered to be outstanding. Alluring and complex, the coffees from this part of the world can contain wonderful flavors, such as blueberries, citrus fruits, cocoa, and spices, which keep drinkers guessing. Kenya, Ethiopia and Yemen are particular hot spots.

Latin America is the coffee powerhouse, with Brazil and Colombia growing more coffee than any five countries combined. The Latin American coffees are usually lighter, with a tangy quality, which makes them great for blending. Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Jamaica Blue Mountain and Costa Rica chip in with their own unique stylings.

Asian countries go the other way, producing a full-bodied, thicker coffee with distinct flavoring, which makes them ideal for blends that require a little deepening. Indonesia grows most of the Asian coffee beans of quality, though Korea is also producing its fair share of the lower end of the market.

Each of these nations has their own distinct coffee flavor, and most major coffee producers actively work to keep it that way. If a sneaky Korean coffee farmer decided to import Brazilian plants, not only would the natural taste of the Brazilian bean eventually change due to different weather, soil and altitude, but the buyers would be annoyed that the lines between varieties have been crossed.

All countries have varieties of their natural coffee beans, such as shade-grown, conservation coffees, fair trade coffees, organic, decaf and more.