Coffee is the third most consumed beverage in the world after water and tea. In 2024, its production is concentrated in countries with tropical climates where arabica and robusta coffee are grown. The former has a milder flavour and is grown at higher altitudes, while the latter has more caffeine and is produced at lower altitudes. If you want to know which are the main coffee producing countries, this article is for you!
Latin America: home of the production giants
Latin America is the main area of coffee production. Brazil grows 38% of the world’s production of this product, which has been the country’s most widespread commodity since the mid-19th century. However, implementing legislation to comply with European regulations to combat deforestation, the EUDR solution, is the biggest technological challenge facing the sector in decades.
- Brazil: the Carioca country produces 2.6 million tonnes and leads world coffee production. According to Cafés Roma, 2 million hectares are used to grow coffee and generate 8.5 million jobs in the market. Brazilian coffee is characterised by its creaminess, low acidity and hints of chocolate and caramel.
- Colombia: this South American country produces 760,000 tonnes of coffee per year. In other words, it is third in the ranking of coffee-producing countries. Exclusively focused on Arabica coffee, it is usually grown at altitudes of between 1,500 and 2,000 metres. Its characteristics include its citric acidity and fruity aroma.
- Honduras: leader in coffee production in Central America with 475,000 tonnes per year. Despite being a young country in this industry, they focus on Arabica coffee as their crops are grown at high altitudes under shade. This keeps biodiversity safe and provides benefits to the soil in the fields.
- Peru: known for its organic high-altitude coffees, grown at over 1,600 metres, produces 346,000 metric tons. The product is smooth and has a balanced flavour, with fruity notes that vary by region.
- Guatemala: characterised by its caramel-like sweetness, it produces around 250,000 tonnes of coffee, especially in the Huehuetenango region. Its cloudy climate and volcanic soils contribute to a balanced brew.
Africa: cradle of diversity in coffee production
Africa is known for the diversity of flavours and profiles of its coffees, originating from different climatic conditions and cultivation methods. Most coffee farmers and coffee production companies are unaware of what is the EUDR. This makes these laws a challenge, even though a growing number of coffee exporting companies on the African continent have already started to analyse the risk of deforestation in their supply chains.
- Ethiopia: known as the African country with the greatest impact on coffee production, Ethiopia produces 472,000 tonnes of coffee. It ranks fifth in the list of coffee-producing countries. With special importance in the Sidamo region, this country produces 4.5% of the world’s production, i.e. around 7.6 million bags of coffee beans.
- Uganda: the tenth country in the ranking produces 209,000 tonnes per year, with 80% of its production dedicated to the robusta variety located in low altitude areas. Around 1.8 million farmers grow coffee in this country, although droughts, torrential rains, pests and looting in their fields complicate exports.
New coffee-producing countries are Asian
Asia is an emerging region in coffee production and has gained prominence in the global market. Unlike the other regions, cultivation in Asia focuses on robusta coffee, used for blends and instant coffees.
- Vietnam is the world’s second largest coffee producer, with 1.54 million metric tons annually. Its production accounts for 40 % of the world’s production of the robusta variety. It is currently the second largest coffee producing country, and 15% of the world’s coffee comes from Vietnam. More than 600,000 hectares are dedicated to coffee, the second most important crop in the country after rice.
- Indonesia: coffee began to be cultivated at the end of the 17th century after the arrival of the first Europeans. The regions of Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi account for 80 % of the country’s crops. It is characterised by the density of the product and spicy nuances.
- India: coffee production in India only began in the 19th century. Today, 312,000 tonnes are produced annually. Much of India’s coffee is shade grown, which can facilitate compliance with the EUDR. However, traceability and certification are crucial to access the European market.
More than 600,000 tonnes of coffee are produced each year in Indonesia
Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world, and all coffee-producing countries share a common trait: they are located in tropical regions. The journey of coffee beans spans countries in South America, Asia and Africa. Despite the challenge of determining its exact origin, the diverse flavours and aromas of coffee reflect the tapestry of cultures and landscapes where it is grown.
Furthermore, the ranking of the top 10 coffee producing countries in the world in 2024, detailing coffee production in tonnes, is as follows:
| Countries | Thousands of tonnes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brasil | 2.681 |
| 2 | Vietnam | 1.542 |
| 3 | Colombia | 754 |
| 4 | Indonesia | 669 |
| 5 | Honduras | 475 |
| 6 | Ethiopia | 472 |
| 7 | Peru | 346 |
| 8 | India | 312 |
| 9 | Guatemala | 254 |
| 10 | Uganda | 209 |