How coffee grows: cultivating and harvesting the coffee tree

The location:
Coffee is grown almost exclusively in the so-called coffee belt around the equator. These include countries such as Costa Rica, Colombia, Ethiopia and Vietnam. The coffee tree is particularly sensitive to weather and soil conditions - a balance of high humidity, stable pH value, green vegetation and altitudes between 200 and 2,200 meters above sea level are ideal.

Two main species are cultivated worldwide:

• Coffea arabica: for high-quality, mild coffees with a complex aroma
• Coffea canephora (Robusta): more resistant, with a stronger, earthy taste
• And not to forget: Coffea liberica, a rare species with a unique taste and large cherries - an exotic species in coffee cultivation with very limited availability.

A coffee tree needs constant care: It is pruned, protected from diseases and pests and often surrounded by shade providers such as banana plants. These not only ensure high humidity, but also keep the microclimate stable - which is crucial for the growth of healthy coffee cherries.

The harvest time varies depending on the region. The quality of the coffee depends heavily on the harvesting method:

Picking - the supreme discipline
The most time-consuming, but also the highest quality method: experienced pickers select only ripe cherries by hand. Unripe cherries remain on the tree - they are preserved for later harvesting. This method is time-consuming, but guarantees the best green coffee. Typical for Arabica coffees in mountainous regions such as Ethiopia or Costa Rica.

Stripping - efficiency with compromises
Here, all the cherries are stripped from the branches at once - both ripe and unripe. Faster, but less selective. Ideal for use on more robust coffee trees with simultaneous ripening.

Mechanical harvesting - for large areas
In countries such as Brazil or Vietnam, machines are increasingly being used - where the terrain is flat or slightly hilly and the plants stand in neat rows. These machines use:

• Shaker arms or vibrating rods that loosen the cherries from the branches
• Brush or suction systems that collect the cherries and transport them to collection containers

Advantages: High efficiency, lower labor costs, suitable for industrial coffee production

Disadvantages: Less selective, loss of quality due to unripe cherries possible, damage to plant and fruit - therefore more suitable for Robusta or cheaper traded coffees

In countries such as Brazil or Vietnam, machines are increasingly being used - where the terrain is flat or slightly hilly and the plants are planted in neat rows. These machines use:

• vibrating arms or vibrating rods that loosen the cherries from the branches
• Brush or suction systems that collect the cherries and transport them to collection containers