Introduction to Yunnan Lingfeng Coffee Growing Conditions_Is Lingfeng Coffee Delicious_How Much Does Lingfeng Coffee Geisha Cost

Professional coffee knowledge exchange, more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account cafe_style)

The Coffee Plant

Coffee belongs to the Rubiaceae family, genus Coffea, which consists of evergreen shrubs. In tropical regions, there are approximately 500 genera and 6,000 species of Rubiaceae plants distributed. There are about 40 species in the Coffea genus, but only three can produce coffee beans with commercial value: Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica. These three are known as the "three major native coffee species." In the market, most are Arabica and Robusta varieties, so Liberica will not be introduced here.

Global Coffee Production

There are more than 60 coffee-producing countries worldwide, most located in the tropical and subtropical regions between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This coffee cultivation area is known as the "Coffee Belt" or "Coffee Zone."

Asian Coffee Origins

Major Asian origins include: Vietnam, Indonesia, India, and China.

Chinese Coffee Regions

China's main coffee-producing regions are in Hainan, Yunnan, Guangdong, and Taiwan. The northern part of Hainan Island and the southern part of Yunnan Province, located between 15°N latitude and the Tropic of Cancer, produce coffee that is rich but not bitter, fragrant but not intense - truly unique. The refreshing and smooth fruity acidity is also distinctive, making it a superior coffee that has received international acclaim.

Yunnan is China's main coffee bean producing region. Located south of the Tropic of Cancer, Yunnan belongs to the subtropical mountainous climate zone, featuring unique high-altitude red soil that is fertile and loose, with a mild climate particularly suitable for growing small-seed coffee varieties.

After inspecting Yunnan's coffee cultivation and initial processing bases, tasting experts from the International Coffee Organization evaluated Yunnan coffee as being in the same category as Colombian wet-processed small-seed coffee, representing the world's highest quality coffee.

Currently, Yunnan coffee is mainly distributed in 11 prefectures and cities, including Baoshan, Simao, Yuxi, and Dehong.

Climate Conditions

The average annual temperature in the Coffee Belt is above 20°C, as coffee trees are tropical plants that cannot grow normally below 20°C. Arabica coffee is not tolerant of high temperatures and humidity, nor can it withstand long-term low temperatures below 5°C. It is mostly cultivated on steep slopes at altitudes of 1000-2000m. Robusta coffee, due to its strong adaptability, is mostly cultivated in lowlands below 1000m altitude. Even rainfall throughout the year, averaging 1000-2000 millimeters, combined with moderate sunlight, creates the most suitable environment for coffee growth. Arabica coffee cannot tolerate intense sunlight and extreme heat, making it suitable for cultivation in terrain prone to morning fog, especially in places with significant temperature differences between day and night.

Soil Requirements

Simply put, soil suitable for coffee cultivation needs sufficient moisture and water content while being rich in organic matter - essentially fertile volcanic soil. The Ethiopian plateau is covered with this type of volcanic weathered soil, making soil rich in humus one of the basic requirements suitable for coffee cultivation.

Coffee Cultivation Process

1. Planting

Coffee trees either come from grafting or begin their life as sprouts from "qualified" seeds planted in shallow, sandy soil. Coffee must be planted with seeds that still have their parchment (the inner pericarp). The "parchment" (also called "sheepskin" or "paper skin") is the tannish-brown hard shell that encases the coffee seed, and coffee beans with this layer attached are called "parchment beans."

2. Seedlings

Coffee seeds with parchment are planted in seed beds and will sprout in 40-60 days, with the timing highly correlated with temperature and humidity. After sprouting, the cotyledon seedlings must be moved to a nursery for cultivation, growing to about 50 centimeters in approximately 6 months. At this stage, the seedlings remain fragile and must be covered with shade nets or similar materials to block direct sunlight. After another 3-12 months, they can be transplanted from the nursery. Therefore, the entire seedling period takes from six months to a year and a half.

3. Growth

After being transplanted from seed beds to the plantation, seedlings take about three to five years to flower. During this period, vegetative growth is vigorous, centered on root, stem, and leaf development, with both above-ground and below-ground parts expanding rapidly to form an ideal plant structure, preparing for production. In countries like those in Central America that use hand-picking methods to harvest coffee beans, farmers prune coffee tree branches and remove lower side branches to improve coffee harvesting efficiency.

4. Flowering

Coffee tree flowers are white five-petaled blossoms with a jasmine-like fragrance. The flowers wilt within several days.

5. Fruiting

After the flowers wilt, small fruits appear, turning red from June to August. Red coloration indicates that the coffee is mature.

The peak harvest period for coffee is during the 6-8 years after the coffee tree matures, after which yields gradually decline. Additionally, if coffee trees grow too tall, it can cause poor harvests. Therefore, coffee farmers will saw the trunk at 30-50 centimeters above ground, allowing it to regenerate branches and renew productivity. This process is called "cutback." With favorable conditions such as suitable climate, proper fertilization, and pest and disease control, coffee trees can continue producing fruit for 20 years, or even 50 years.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans, while also providing online store services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473