Latin America is the leading coffee producer in the world. A major reason for this is that it has the ideal climate and geography for growing coffee. The tall mountains and humid forests found in Latin America are really conducive to coffee growth. This article will be covering some basic information about Latin American coffee so you can become a true coffee connoisseur!
A Brief History
Coffee first arrived in Latin America in the 18th century when it was introduced in the Caribbean. By the 19th century, Brazil emerged as the leading producer of coffee in the world. This was able to happen because early coffee farmers would clear and burn tropical forests in order to cultivate coffee farms. However, due to a lack of scientific information, farmers would abandon these farms once the solid was no longer fertile. By the mid-20th century, farmers were able to use scientific innovations to combat decreasing soil fertility and pests, etc. Companies were able to increase coffee production by using chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Latin America is still the leading global coffee producer. Colombia and Brazil are the most significant contributors in the region and they produce both Arabica and Rustica coffee beans.
Let’s go more in-depth into some of the coffee-producing regions in Latin America.
Brazil
As we have already discussed, Brazil is the top producer of coffee in the world. The Brazilian coffee market has a great impact on the global coffee market. The low growing altitudes in Brazil make it ideal for coffee growth. Brazilian coffee is known and loved for its bittersweet taste, with notes of chocolate and low acidity.
Colombia
Colombia is the second-highest coffee producer in Latin America. It has different coffee production processes compared to Brazil due to more high growing altitudes. The coffee is known for its rich caramel-like sweetness and is a great option for those who enjoy their coffee on the sweet side.
Peru
The region is famous for its light and nutty coffee. However, production in Peru has been low due to political turmoil. This means it is hard to obtain good quality Peruvian coffee. In contrast, low-quality Peruvian coffee is easily available.
Ecuador
The coffee produced in Ecuador has a thin to medium body and is fresh yet acidic. Ecuador has the ideal climate for growing coffee which has really aided the scale of its coffee production. However, it is most famous for its low-quality coffee.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is famous for its unique coffee which is fruity and sweet with notes of chocolate. It is also very scarce which makes it expensive and hard to obtain!
Conclusion
If you have made it to the end of this article, you now have the basic knowledge of Latin American coffee and some of the major coffee-producing countries in the region. In case you ever indulge in a conversation about coffee, this knowledge will surely come in handy and allow you to display your love for coffee!