Coffee Origins! Let’s talk about ‘em
The coffee plant is native to Africa and Asia, but it now grows in more places around the world.
Today, we are going to look at three of the main regions coffee is grown around the world: Africa, Central and South America, and Southeast Asia! We source coffees from several countries in multiple regions to provide excellent variety for diverse palates.
Africa
According to legend, the coffee plant was discovered by an Ethiopian goatherd named Kaldi, who noticed his goats chewing on red cherries from a nearby bush and becoming energetic after doing so. This discovery, along with its usage in religious ceremonies, led to coffee exploding in popularity and reaching across the sea to Yemen, eventually spreading to Europe and the rest of the world.
African coffees, mostly growing in Eastern Africa countries like Ethiopia and Kenya, are known for having bright acidity and fruity flavors. Ethiopian coffees especially have had a place of notoriety in the specialty coffee industry, while Kenyan and Rwandan coffees have had a resurgence in recent years. To try some African coffee from Reverie, check out Rwanda Nova Coffee!
Many South American coffees from the Andes Mountains, such as this area in Quindio, Colombia.
Central + South America
Coffee made its way across the Atlantic during the European colonialization of the Caribbean and Americas, because the tropical growing climates were suitable for coffee beans, just like East Africa. Spreading throughout the Caribbean and rainforests in Central America, coffee became a staple crop in countries between Mexico and Brazil. Some of the more common origins for South American coffee are Colombia and Guatemala. Overall, South American coffees are known for more chocolate and nutty flavors. However, high altitudes within these regions can result in coffees similar to African coffees, or ones with lots of sweetness and herbal notes! For some Central and South American coffees from Reverie, try Guatemala Co-Atitlan and Colombia Huila!
Southeast Asia
While coffee cultivation spread west into the New World, it was also expanding east into India. By the 1800s, those growing regions included Vietnam and the Philippines. Vietnam in particular has become one of the main coffee growing countries in the world, especially because of the abundance of the Robusta bean, a subspecies of coffee plant that grows at lower altitudes and is less susceptible to insect attacks and disease. Robusta is a more common coffee in the commodity market, but there are also Robusta coffees breaking into the specialty market! With spicy and herbal notes, Southeast Asian coffees can give a new perspective to coffee drinkers looking for something unique. We don’t currently offer a Southeast Asian coffee at Reverie, but you may remember Vietnam Cau Dat from our lineup in early 2022. We are always looking for new coffees to feature in our rotation, and you may see another Vietnamese coffee make its appearance on our store in the future!
Robusta beans can grow at much lower altitudes, which make them perfect for Vietnam’s geography and climate.
While coffee can grow around the world in a variety of climates, we at Reverie strive to source the best quality of coffees we can, and roast them carefully to bring out the best flavors from each brew. Did you learn something new from this post? Try a new coffee origin today by visiting our Shop link below.