Coffee comes from the seeds (commonly called beans) of plants in the genus Coffea, with two species dominating global production: Coffea arabica (arabica) and Coffea canephora (robusta). Native to the forests of Ethiopia, coffee was first cultivated on the Arabian Peninsula and has since become one of the most traded agricultural commodities in the world.
The beverage is made by roasting the green seeds, grinding them, and extracting soluble compounds with hot water. The resulting drink is valued for its complex flavour and its caffeine content. Flavour varies enormously depending on the species, growing region, altitude, processing method, roast level, and brewing technique.
Australia has a particularly strong coffee culture, with espresso-based drinks dominating the market. The country also has a small but growing domestic coffee-growing industry in northern New South Wales and Queensland. Globally, Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, and Ethiopia are the largest producers. Coffee farming supports the livelihoods of an estimated 25 million smallholder farmers worldwide.
How it's produced
Coffee plants are grown in tropical and subtropical regions, typically between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn in a zone known as the coffee belt. Arabica thrives at higher altitudes (1,000–2,000 metres) with cooler temperatures, while robusta grows at lower elevations in warmer, more humid conditions. Plants begin producing fruit (called cherries) after three to four years and remain productive for 20 to 30 years.
Cherries are harvested either by hand-picking (selecting only ripe fruit) or strip-picking (removing all fruit at once). After harvest, the seeds must be separated from the surrounding fruit pulp through one of several processing methods: washed (fermented and rinsed), natural (dried whole in the sun), or honey (partially washed). The processed green beans are then dried, graded, and exported for roasting.
What it costs the planet (per kilo)
* Based on what it takes to produce, from farm to factory gate.
Keeping it
Keep it: in a sealed container in the pantry.
Advice from Cubud’s own keeping notes — how to keep it, not a measured number.
What comes from this
Your household's take
One thumb per person, shared with your household — it steers what the wider-web shelf and the swap chips offer you. Tap again to take it back.
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