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Ecuador Coffee Growing Region Gigante: Planting History, Stories, and Flavor Characteristics

Published: 2026-01-28 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/28, Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). Located between Colombia and Peru, with the equator passing through, Ecuador is one of the few countries in South America that produces both Arabica and Robusta coffee. In fact, Ecuador is the Spanish word for "equator." Due to the use of traditional old-style harvesting methods

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For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style)

Ecuador: The Land of Coffee Diversity

Located between Colombia and Peru, with the equator passing through it, Ecuador is one of the few countries in South America that produces both Arabica and Robusta coffee. In fact, Ecuador means "equator" in Spanish. Due to the use of old-fashioned traditional harvesting and processing methods, Ecuadorian coffee is not listed among specialty coffees, which is why it is generally less commonly seen and more unfamiliar.

The Universal Appeal of Coffee

When thoughts drift to a cup of aromatic coffee, one feels pleasant and refreshed. We love to enjoy a cup of coffee to pleasantly refresh ourselves—a feeling that is universal worldwide and full of local flavor. Coffee is the second largest export product in the world after oil. Thanks to the hard work of about 100 million small coffee farmers worldwide, we can enjoy 12,000 cups of coffee every second.

Why do we love coffee? Coffee can basically be divided into two categories: sun-grown coffee and shade-grown coffee. It can also be classified as coffee grown on plains or high mountains, and industrially produced or organically produced coffee. High mountain (approximately 800-2000 meters) grown coffee is called Arabica coffee, while coffee grown in large quantities on plains sometimes involves the overuse of pesticides and agricultural chemicals to control pests and diseases. Coffee grown in mountainous and volcanic areas, planted in densely forested regions according to diverse terrain, yields even better quality coffee. Therefore, Arabica coffee is more ecological and of superior quality.

Ecuador's Diverse Coffee Regions

Different regions in Ecuador grow Arabica coffee under various climate and terrain conditions. For example, in the southern Loja province, there are coffee plantations at extremely high altitudes (between 1600-1900 meters). The Amazon rainforest also grows coffee; highland coffee cultivation in Zamora Chinchipe province helps avoid the local deforestation crisis. Additionally, coffee grown in the highlands of Ecuador's golden coast region, el Oro, benefits from the meeting of cold winds from the Andes mountains and hot air currents from the Pacific, creating dense fog that partially covers local coffee plantations. High altitude, soil conditions, and excellent post-processing result in local coffee with special flavors—balanced acidity, aroma, and mouthfeel with rich walnut notes.

On the Ecuadorian coast, Manabi is a very important coffee-producing region, with plantations located at approximately 400-600 meters altitude. Thanks to the regional climate formed by ocean currents, its coffee tastes different from other lowland-grown coffees. It has excellent mouthfeel and aroma with balanced acidity, making it very suitable for making espresso.

Ecuadorian Coffee Characteristics

Arabica coffee trees were first introduced to Ecuador in 1952, and the coffee quality is excellent, especially coffee harvested in early June. Ecuadorian coffee beans can be divided into two varieties: Galapagos and Gigante, both characterized by large, heavy beans. Ecuadorian coffee can be classified by quality into No.1 and Extra Superior grades. They are mainly exported to Nordic countries in the Scandinavian Peninsula.

The main problem facing coffee producers is striving to maintain stable quality. The local coffee generally has a very balanced and refreshing taste, with a unique aroma.

Geographical and Historical Context

Ecuador is one of the few countries in South America that produces both Arabica and Robusta coffee. However, as land suitable for Arabica coffee trees decreases, Robusta coffee production is gradually increasing. The best Arabica coffee comes from the Andes Mountains, especially the Chanchamgo Valley. The Andes Mountains form two mountain ranges extending from south to north, reaching central Ecuador.

Located in South America between Colombia and Peru, Ecuador has a quite long history of coffee cultivation. The Loja region in southern Ecuador, adjacent to the Andes Mountains, is one of the highest coffee-growing areas in the world and also an important coffee export city for the country. Most cultivation is done through natural shade-grown methods, where the high altitude, climate changes, and soil quality are very suitable for coffee growth.

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