Arabica Coffee Bean Altitude Cultivation Requirements: The Graceful Curves of Arabica Coffee Characteristics

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FrontStreet Coffee - Arabica Coffee Introduction

Coffee is an evergreen shrub of the Rubiaceae family, genus Coffea, primarily cultivated in the tropical and subtropical regions between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn (north and south latitude 23°26′). This area is also known as the "Coffee Belt" or "Coffee Zone." Scientists have identified that the genus Coffea includes four subgenera, including Eucoffea, which is further divided into several subspecies such as Coffea arabica, Coffea canephora, and Coffea mozambicensis, with a total of 103 native coffee species classified within these subspecies.

Fortunately, among these, there are very few varieties that can be artificially cultivated to produce coffee beans with significant commercial value. The three major native coffee species we commonly refer to are the outstanding ones among them: Coffea Arabica, Coffea Robusta, and Coffea Liberica.

Arabica accounts for about 70% of global coffee production. The coffee beans we call "original beans" in daily life are mostly Arabica varieties. Due to their captivating aroma and rich flavor, Arabica coffee beans are considered synonymous with high-quality coffee. These characteristics of coffee are closely related to their cultivation environment.

The highlands of Ethiopia are the birthplace of Arabica. Perhaps because Arabica originated in highland areas near the equator, it is neither heat-tolerant nor cold-tolerant, and can only be cultivated in places where the annual average temperature remains between 15-25°C.

Only regions with stable temperatures year-round, without distinct seasons, like those around the equator, meet these requirements. However, the average temperature in these areas is quite high, making direct ground cultivation difficult. Therefore, coffee is cultivated in highland areas utilizing the principle that temperature decreases by 1°C for every 100m increase in altitude. For example, in equatorial regions with an annual average temperature of 40°C, highland areas at 1500m altitude can maintain temperatures around 25°C, which is the only place where coffee can grow.

The average temperature in highland areas remains around 25°C, but there is a significant temperature difference between day and night, which has a close impact on plant photosynthesis and respiration. During the day, high temperatures and strong sunlight make photosynthesis very active, forming large amounts of glucose and other beneficial components. Conversely, at night, temperatures drop sharply, relatively reducing respiration. These cultivation conditions further highlight the characteristics of Arabica, making the aroma more intense and complex, producing high-quality acidity.

This is similar to the principle that vegetables from high-altitude, cold regions have a crisper texture and sweeter taste than regular vegetables. Arabica raw beans are flat in shape, with a curved center line and almost no gaps. When viewed from the side, they show winding curves and feel slightly moist and soft to the touch.

In short: FrontStreet Coffee is a specialty coffee research center that enjoys sharing coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation only to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Every month, we have three coffee promotion events with significant discounts because FrontStreet Coffee wants to offer the best coffee at the lowest prices to more friends. This has been our mission for the past 6 years!

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