There is more drink consumed than coffee in the world: water. That hugely popular coffee It can confuse us and make us think that coffee trees – their own plant – grow under stones. But this does not happen, far from it, and its culture has many limitations, if the intention of the plants is good and can produce an adequate grain.
But why is it so light? Let’s see what black coffee grows in certain areas and how climate change this culture was threatened. Opening opportunities outside the so-called “coffee belt.”
In the coffee belt. First of all, with this term signed, let’s go to understand the main coffee producing areas. The coffee belt extends across America, Africa and South Asia. Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Ethiopia and Indonesia are the largest producers of coffee, although there are other players such as Argentina or Mexico, which are related to it.
But these places have something in common: they are near the equator (within the tropical segment), so they have tropical and subtropical climates. These conditions are ideal because of good humidity, a well-defined rainy season (with wet and dry periods) and average temperatures that remain between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius.
The height of the issue. These conditions are rare outside the coffee belt, but climate is not the only thing that matters: altitude is necessary for coffee trees to grow. And here we must distinguish two different coffees, which certainly sound familiar to you: Arabica coffee and Robusta. They differ a lot;
- in Arabic. It is considered top quality because of the growth rate. Reason? It is grown in areas ranging from 800 to 2,000 meters (a few hundred meters up or down) and is good for slow growth. This is vital so that the fruit is born by absorbing the flavor nuances of the earth and the fruit trees that it usually has around it, developing richer flavor nuances by making more sugar. Colombia, Peru, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Ecuador, Kenya, Jamaica and Costa Rica are some of the main producers.
- Robust. Yes, this one is more resistant to hot temperatures and is usually born at lower altitudes. Its flavor profile is considered less complex, but it is much easier to grow due to the lower altitude. It is somewhat ‘stronger’ and bitter, but the advantage is that the fruit of the coffee trees is higher. Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Uganda and India are some of the largest producers.
In fact, it is curious that in the sale of “100% Arabica coffee” it is used as a synonym for “hey, this is good, it is 100% coffee”. Also, the Arabica variety is softer and has a milder flavor. some of the most expensive coffees in the world from this branch) but the Arabica is perfectly roasted, or badly roasted, which does not free the coffee from its bitter taste.
Soil and shade. Altitude and this combination of average temperatures and dry/rainy marks are essential, but other factors are taken into account. The shade is the one that protects the plant from strong light. And the soil is more of the same: where the coffee trees absorb nutrients, which are then returned to the grain.
In fact, when we talk about “coffee with citrus or cocoa nuances”, it means that the coffee trees are planted near (or among) the plantations of this type and are capable of assimilating some of the properties of other fruits. Volcanic millstones, such as those found in Colombia or Costa Rica, are also beneficial because of their abundance of nutrients.
Challenges and opportunities. But not everything is written for the biggest coffee producers. Over the years, these coffee belt countries have maintained their dominance by having the characteristics that allow the best cultivation, but it is something that can change with climate change. For by one the showers become more constant. On the other hand, with an increased average temperature, coffee trees will have to grow in higher areas, where there is less space.
An opportunity? Well, we can now see how the areas outside the coffee belt are growing. Or trying to. In the Canary Islands, for example, we have Agate coffee. It is an area that meets special conditions for the cultivation of culture, in addition to the mill soil, which is completely outside, but also tested. to grow coffee in Baetica and much more extreme: Catalonia. In Sicily we also went from having coffee trees that could not bear the winter to seeing the plants growing out of control.
and technology. This very thing try to grow Catalan coffee which can save Arabica varieties from specific areas that are beginning to be affected by climate change. What those authors have done is to select the most resistant plants and varieties that allow them to grow in a controlled environment.
Another possibility is that which will be least liked by both producers and purists: the coffee without coffee produced from a mixture of ground seeds with mixed additives and synthetic caffeine. Those who have experienced it say that it is not bad and that it tastes like coffee, but they have hope that, for the good of the industry and all the people who depend on it, “traditional” coffee is not in danger of extinction.
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