Where do coffee beans come from?

As we at The New Zealand Coffee Company deal with fresh coffee beans on a daily basis, we’re expected to know our stuff. Our team are happy to explain where the coffee we use is grown and share our knowledge on areas such as where coffee beans were first discovered, and where else they are grown today.

In this blog post, we’ll key you in on some of the history of coffee, so that you’re better educated and have a fact or two to throw around when you head out for your morning coffee tomorrow.

When and where did people discover coffee beans?

Coffee beans are said to have been first discovered in Ethiopia in the 11^th Century, where the berries and leaves of Coffea plants were found to have energising and stimulating properties. Although one legend tells us that the goat herder, Kaldi, was the person to uncover the potential of the Coffea plant after noticing his goats acting strangely energetic, there is no substantiated evidence of coffee being consumed by humans until the 15^th century, when trade began its distribution throughout Africa and Arabia.

At the turn of the 17^th Century, coffee beans quickly spread around the world – first to India and Europe, and then to colonies in the Americas and the rest of the world. In 2018, coffee is the second most popular drink in the world after water, and over 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed around the world every day.

Where are the world’s coffee beans grown today?

When learning about where the world’s coffee bean supply is grown today the first point to note are the two main types of Coffea plant that humans grow: Arabica and Robusta. Both grow best in the tropics, however, Arabica does best at higher altitudes, with less rainfall, and at slightly lower temperatures (15 to 24 degrees Celsius) compared to Robusta, which can be grown in hotter and harsher conditions.

With that said, Arabica coffee is grown in enormous quantities in South American countries such as Brazil and Colombia, which have been able to develop their economies immensely as a result of the coffee boom. In Asian countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, Robusta coffee suits the conditions much better and makes up most of their coffee production. Nevertheless, a lot of coffee is still grown in Ethiopia - the original home of coffee - where the climate is suitable for both types of plant.

Where does the NZ Coffee Company get their coffee beans?

To bring you the highest-quality coffee New Zealand has to offer, we are committed to offering coffee blends that will make for delicious, refreshing, and energising coffee. Our popular house blend brings together coffee beans from Papua New Guinea, Colombia, Kenya, and Brazil to create a bright, punchy, maple-sweet profile, while our seasonal espresso blend – our go-to in the café - contains beans from Colombia, Brazil, Sumatra, and Ethiopia.

If you’re looking to try any of these high-quality blends, buy coffee equipment for professionals, or find out what we can do for customers who need a wholesale coffee provider, get in contact with The New Zealand Coffee Company today! With 40 years of experience serving coffee to New Zealanders, we have the knowledge and experience necessary to provide Kiwis with their favourite morning cup!