Which Country Produces the Best Coffee Beans?

Professional coffee tasters rate coffee beans from around the world regularly. Their goal? To rate coffee as objectively as possible so that we can compare them and determine which is best. 

Interestingly, results vary. At the level of high-grade specialty coffee, sourced from reputable farms and processed appropriately, it’s hard to be disappointed. However, the best coffee for me might not be the best coffee for you. 

Sure, some coffees get a higher flavour score, but the same coffees may also be the most bitter. On the other hand, coffee that receives a good score for its aroma might not be as full-bodied as you’d like. So, what makes coffee good? Let’s find out.  

The Origin

Coffee is regularly of high quality when it grows in places with long-lasting coffee-growing traditions. It’s unsurprising that coffee from Ethiopia and Kenya, coffee’s ancestral home, is a wonderful source of premium coffee beans. 

Coffee plants also feel right at home in a few select corners of the world. They grow beautifully in Southern Mexico, Central and South America. Brazil is the largest coffee producer in the world!

Finally, Asia-Pacific is another reliable source of premium coffee beans. It seems coffee plants like to live in the world’s most exhilarating tourist destinations. Who wouldn’t? If you need more proof, Hawaii is also on the list.

Altitude 

Robusta coffee plants, aka Coffea canephora, are not too picky. They’ll grow and produce good fruit even if the conditions are not the best. Arabica coffee, aka Caffea arabica coffee plants are a bit more finicky. They prefer high-altitude locations. Or, as coffee growers say, “Arabica likes a good view.”

Back to the professional coffee taster results, it’s no surprise that the highest graded coffees come from high-altitude sites, for example, an Ethiopian arabica grown at a mean altitude of 2075 meters. That’s a solid 8+ out of 10.

So, why is altitude essential for good coffee beans? Briefly, the plants grow slower at higher altitudes, their fruit ripens more calmly and therefore have more complexity and acidity. Try an Ethiopian Yirgacheffe grown 1900-2400 meters and you’ll know what we mean by complexity and mouthwatering acidity.

The best coffee beans in the world result in the best coffee, and both origin and altitude play a critical role. However, the world of fine coffee is a bit more complex than that. You can learn a bit more about specialty coffee here. 

The Bottom Line

Asking which country produces the best coffee beans is a fun exercise. But the truth is, the best coffee beans are those you enjoy the most. And we all like our coffee differently!

There are dozens of types of coffee beans from around the world. Some are similar, and some are distinct. However, they all have the potential to become a delicious brew. 

More often than not, for quality, the hand of the grower and the skills of the roaster are more important than the origin of the coffee. 

And there’s more. We would argue that the best coffee beans in the world are those that are sourced ethically, taking into consideration their environmental and social impact. So, to get your hands on the best coffee around, you must ensure it comes from a trusted source. What’s the best coffee for you?

At Hayman’s online store, you will find many of the above-mentioned coffees, which come with free worldwide shipping. Click HERE to order today!