The flavor characteristics of the world's three major coffee producing regions

The origin of coffee trees is in Ethiopia, Africa. Botanically, coffee trees belong to the Rubiaceae family, a subgenus of the Coffea family, an evergreen tree. The circular area between 25 degrees north and south of the Tropic of Cancer is the natural growth area of ​​coffee. We usually call this area the "Coffee Belt" (Coffee belt/Coffee zone). Coffee trees have different flavors due to different farming methods, regional climates, and soil qualities.

The main coffee producing areas and characteristics

1. Coffee from Latin America: It has a cocoa and nutty flavor, low acidity and high body. The coffee beans from this origin have a vivid and mild flavor, and their delicate taste makes them highly valued.

1. Brazil

Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer, with total output ranking first in the world, accounting for about 1/3 of the world's total output, and is mainly concentrated in central and southern Brazil.

Brazilian coffee beans are neutral in nature, mild and smooth in taste, low in acidity, moderate in alcohol content, and lightly sweet, and can be tasted individually. For this reason, Brazilian coffee beans are suitable for brewing in the most popular way, and are also the best raw material for making Italian espresso and various fancy coffees.

2. Columbia

Colombia is the world's second largest coffee exporter. Most of its coffee trees are planted in three mountain ranges running from north to south. Only Arabica coffee is grown. Although its production ranking is lower than that of Brazil, the coffee beans are of excellent quality. Its flavor is mellower than that of Brazilian beans, with a rich and unique aroma, sweetness with sourness, and moderate bitterness. It is very suitable for drinking alone or mixed with beans.

3. Peru

Peru is one of the major coffee producers in South America, and coffee is Peru's largest agricultural export.

Peruvian coffee beans have a rounded shape, moderate alcohol content, are neither too thick nor too light, have moderate acidity, and have a slight taste of drupes. Because Peru has good economic conditions and a stable political situation, which guarantees the excellent quality of coffee and steadily increasing export volume, it has gradually become known to coffee lovers, and more and more people are now liking Peruvian coffee.

4. Costa Rica

Due to Costa Rica's unique volcanic geology, high-altitude growing terrain, and low-temperature growing environment, the coffee trees here grow slowly. The coffee beans produced have the taste of time sedimentation. The coffee beans have a balanced and clear aroma, and are famous for their rich berry flavor and rich fruit acid.

The coffee trees planted in Costa Rica are all Arabica coffee trees. The quality of the coffee beans has been improved and is more stable. Costa Rican coffee has full beans, ideal acidity, and a unique and strong aroma. High-quality Costa Rican coffee is called "extra hard beans". This type of coffee can grow at an altitude of more than 1,500 meters. The beans are full, the acidity is ideal, and the aroma is unique and strong.

5. Guatemala

Guatemala has a long mountain range and a great variety of regional climates, which has resulted in seven major coffee producing regions, each with its own unique flavor and characteristics. Among them, the coffee from Antigua has a balanced and refreshing fruit acidity, a rich spice flavor, a superior sourness and a smooth sweetness, and a slightly volcanic carbon-burning flavor, which makes Guatemala's coffee famous around the world.

6. El Salvador

El Salvador's terrain is highland. Because there are two parallel mountains in the country and the volcanic soil is rich in minerals, this special geographical environment makes El Salvador suitable for growing coffee.

The coffee trees in El Salvador are Arabica species, mainly Bourbon and Pacas. The coffee is light, aromatic, pure, slightly sour and refreshing.

2. African/Arab coffee: Coffee beans with citrus and floral aromas, high acidity and low alcohol content. This is the earliest origin of coffee, and the coffee produced in these regions has a fascinating flavor.

1. Ethiopia

Coffee trees originate from the plateau region in southwestern Ethiopia, Africa. They were originally wild plants here. The name "coffee" comes from the small town in Ethiopia - "Kaffa". In fact, many coffee trees in Ethiopia are still wild plants. The coffee berries grown on the coffee trees here are full and have a slightly winey aroma.

Ethiopia is an important coffee producer. Various coffee cultivation methods can be found in Ethiopia, ranging from large tracts of wild coffee groves and semi-developed land, to traditionally managed small plots of land, to modern plantations. About 50% of coffee trees are planted at an altitude of more than 1,500 meters.

2. Kenya

Kenyan coffee is mostly grown at an altitude of 1500-2100 meters and is harvested twice a year. To ensure that only ripe berries are picked, people must patrol the forest. Kenyan coffee is grown by small farmers. After harvesting the coffee, they first send the fresh coffee beans to the cooperative cleaning station, which then washes and dries the coffee and sends it to the cooperative in the form of "parchment coffee beans" ("parchment coffee beans" are the last state of the coffee beans before they are peeled).

Kenyan coffee is characterized by its distinct fruity aroma and acidity, and a little bit of wine aroma in its rich taste. Kenyan coffee is mostly grown in the southwest and eastern plateaus. All varieties are Arabica and washed coffee. The common varieties are Bourbon, Typica, Kents, and Riuri 11.

3. Coffee from Asia/Pacific region: It has the aroma of soil and spices, with moderate acidity and body. The coffee produced here has a long history and is full of earthy flavor. It is a very popular coffee variety.

1. India

India ranks among the top countries in the world in terms of coffee production, producing both Robusta and Arabica. It is also one of the countries that uses both the washed and sun-dried coffee processing methods.

The area where Indian coffee is grown is mainly between the Western Ghats in southern India and the Arabian Sea. Monsoon Malabar is a very distinctive type of coffee in India. This type of coffee beans was exported to Europe from the Malabar Coast. Because the raw coffee beans were exposed to the sea breeze for a long time during the voyage, the color (golden yellow) and taste changed, becoming the taste that Europeans are accustomed to and like.

If you were a coffee bean, where would you live?