Coffee belt: where the best coffees in the world grows

The coffee belt stretches around the equator - between the 23rd parallel north and south. These regions have the ideal climatic conditions for the coffee plant to grow optimally:

• Warm climate between 18 and 25 °C
• Tropical-equatorial or humid-dry climate with sufficient rainfall
• Fertile soils, often of volcanic origin
• High altitudes (particularly important for Arabica coffee)

Arabica vs. Robusta
Two main varieties grow in coffee-growing regions:

• Arabica plants: prefer high altitudes, mild taste, higher quality
• Robusta: grows at lower altitudes, stronger, earthy taste, more caffeine

Countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda

The coffee plant is at home in Africa - especially in Ethiopia, where over 5,000 wild Arabica varieties grow. The tropical climate at high altitudes produces coffees with complex, floral and fruity notes.

• Ethiopia: Origin of the coffee, floral and citrusy
• Kenya: distinctive acidity, often with notes of blackcurrant
• Uganda: a lot of Robusta cultivation, but increasingly also high-quality Arabicas
• Typical: fruity, floral, ideal for lighter roasts

Whether a coffee tastes chocolaty, fruity or spicy depends not only on the variety, but also strongly on the growing region - and the local terroir: in other words, the specific climatic and geological conditions under which the coffee bean grows.

However, roasting also has a major influence. For example, dark roasting can make a fruity African coffee significantly stronger, while light roasting brings out the subtle aromas better.