Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and it's no surprise that many people are interested in growing their own coffee plants. But before you start, it's important to understand what kind of land and conditions are ideal for growing coffee. Ideal average temperatures for Arabica coffee range between 15 and 24 °C, while Robusta coffee can thrive in warmer and harsher conditions, with temperatures between 24 and 30 °C. Coffee needs an annual rainfall of 1500 to 3000 mm, with Arabica needing less than other species.
Robusta coffee can be grown between sea level and about 800 meters, while Arabica grows best at higher altitudes and is often found in mountainous areas. Coffee plants can be grown indoors or outdoors, so you have options whether you live in a small apartment or have a large backyard. If you decide to grow it indoors, make sure you don't put it in an area of direct sunlight, as it prefers diffused sunlight. If you try to grow it outdoors, understand that these plants can become quite large, so you will need enough space to grow without interference.
Optimal conditions for growing coffee include cold to warm tropical climates, rich soils and few pests or diseases. The World's Coffee Belt extends all over the world along the equator, with crops in North, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Brazil is now the largest coffee producing country in the world. California coffee is still considered experimental, with a company Frinj, the passionate project of singer-songwriter Jason Mraz that dominates the game so far.
Frinj works as a kind of organization that groups dozens of small coffee farms in California, most of them in the San Diego area. When looking at how arabica coffee plants grow in their natural habitats, they are found in tropical and mountainous regions that receive a lot of moisture and significant water. Whether you're an experienced gardener or just starting out, growing your own coffee plant requires dedication and understanding of its needs. At this stage, it is essential for the taproot to grow vertically to provide stability and allow the coffee plant to live longer. With projected temperature increases, more tropical districts (Goiás, Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo) could lose a significant amount of adequate cultivation area. Much of the world's coffee production depends on farmers living at a subsistence level, and many of them only grow coffee, not food crops.
Consider Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica), the species that is grown for approximately 70 percent of world coffee production. For more information on coffee producing regions, ecology and the best climate for coffee trees, visit the National Coffee Association or the International Coffee Organization. In short, warming the climate can damage coffee in multiple ways - reducing the area of cultivation, increasing pests and losing quality. Although your individual plant may grow faster or slower, it takes an average of three to four years before it starts to flower. Organizations such as TechnoServe and others are working on the ground with Puerto Rican farmers to help revitalize the Puerto Rican coffee industry, and the island is home to a thriving coffee culture. To start growing your own coffee plant at home, you need to find seedlings, cherries or green coffee beans for an arabica coffee plant.
With strong disease resistance, warmer climates and poor soil conditions, as well as the ability to withstand heavier tropical rains and unpredictable annual rainfall - robusta coffees tend to be easier to grow. In Hawaii, coffee has been grown since the beginning of the 19th century when it was imported from Brazil. Theoretically California avocado growers could add coffee to already cultivated land for a profitable secondary crop. The designation “Kona coffee” can only be legally applied to coffees grown in the Kona region of the Big Island - but it is common for companies to mix a small portion of Kona with lower-priced coffees sourced from other countries and market them as “Kona Blend” or “Kona style cafe”.Whether you're an experienced gardener or just starting out - if you want to grow your own coffee, understanding what kind of land is ideal for growing is essential. Ideal temperatures range between 15-24 °C for Arabica coffee, while Robusta can flourish in warmer conditions between 24-30 °C.
Coffee needs an annual rainfall of 1500-3000 mm - with Arabica needing less than other species - while Robusta can be grown between sea level and 800 meters above sea level. Optimal conditions include cold-warm tropical climates with rich soils and few pests or diseases. The World's Coffee Belt extends all over the world along the equator - with crops in North America, Central America & South America; The Caribbean; Africa; The Middle East; & Asia - with Brazil being the largest producer. California coffee is still considered experimental - but organizations such as TechnoServe are working on revitalizing Puerto Rican coffee. To start growing your own coffee, you need seedlings/cherries/green coffee beans, while robusta coffees tend to be easier to grow due to their disease resistance & ability to withstand heavier rains & unpredictable annual rainfall.
