What Growing Conditions Do Coffee Varieties Need? Do Political Factors Affect Coffee Cultivation?

Have you ever understood and calculated the approximate costs of growing coffee? How do coffee farmers decide which coffee beans they will plant on their farms to achieve maximum economic benefits? Can they plant whatever coffee they want, or are they constrained by certain conditions and factors?

Now FrontStreet Coffee will take you to explore several factors that influence farmers' decisions on which coffee varieties to plant. We know that there are many coffee varieties in the world. For example, FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain coffee variety is Typica, Mandheling coffee variety is Ateng, and Panama coffee variety is Geisha. With so many coffee varieties in the world, how do farmers choose which one to plant?

In the world of coffee, there are two basic families: Arabica coffee and Robusta coffee. If you are sitting in a specialty coffee shop right now, you are likely drinking Arabica coffee. However, if you drink some espresso coffee, this is usually a Robusta coffee. This is not to say that all Robusta coffee is bad; on the contrary, when mixed in espresso with Arabica coffee, it can add very good cream and body to the espresso. About 75% of the coffee grown in the world is Arabica coffee. Arabica coffee is known for its wonderful flavors, which is why it is so popular, but it is more susceptible to various diseases—especially coffee leaf rust. On the other hand, Robusta has slightly higher caffeine content. It is not known for its special taste, but it does provide a higher level of disease resistance. In Vietnam, where 97% of the coffee is Robusta, it is the world's largest producer of Robusta coffee.

1. Farm Altitude

Altitude is an important factor in determining which coffee to plant. The general rule is that Arabica coffee is planted between 1,800 to 6,300 feet, requires 1,500-2,500 millimeters of rainfall annually, and prefers a slightly cooler climate range of 15-24 degrees Celsius. Robusta, on the other hand, is usually planted closer to the equator and is happier in hot conditions such as those in Vietnam. Vietnam has an average annual rainfall of 1,800 millimeters, providing excellent growing conditions for Robusta coffee, which is one of the reasons it has become the world's largest producer of Robusta coffee.

2. Plant Price and Expected Return on Investment

The second factor in determining coffee varieties is the business aspect of growing coffee. The price of plants and the expected return on investment are obviously important factors in deciding which plants to purchase. Should farmers plant the cheapest, highest-yielding coffee varieties and try to profit from large quantities of coffee from the harvest? Would it be better for them to plant Geisha, which won't yield close to Catuai's production, requires more care, but does command a higher price in the international market, in some cases reaching up to $350 per pound at auction? How much cash does the farmer have on hand to operate the farm during the first few years when the plants are still growing and not producing? Should he choose a variety like Tekisic, which starts producing its first fruits just one year after being planted?

The answers to all these questions actually depend on each farmer's situation and the details of their plantation. As the specialty coffee market continues to develop and enter new countries and markets, the demand for high-quality coffee will also continue to increase, and the necessity for farmers to predict this demand and adapt accordingly will become key to their ability to sustain themselves.

3. Political Factors Affect Local Coffee Farmers' Plant Selection

Abroad, many farmers' plant choices are often influenced by the political situation within a country. Many mayors or presidential candidates frequently donate hundreds of thousands of plants in their cities to win votes, as large numbers of farmers can be found within their departments. In a sense, this benefits farmers because their planting costs are reduced and they can get plants for free, but it doesn't always consider what kind of plants they are providing to voters. Additionally, producers who have been caring for coffee seedlings in nurseries—plants that have already adapted the plants to the region where they will be planted—are hurt due to the increased supply of free plants in the market depressing demand and prices for nursery plants, with a corresponding decline in price per plant.

Direct trade coffee buyers and coffee enthusiasts have a great opportunity to work with farmers and educate them on what kind of coffee to plant based on current market trends, and what produces best in their region based on their farm's climate and altitude. Additionally, working with farmers to establish their own coffee nurseries, where they can germinate, bag seedlings and sell their own coffee plants, helps ensure future planting costs and sustainable practices. These simple practices not only help farmers maximize their return on investment but also enable us to benefit from what promises to be higher-quality coffee.

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