Which Countries Grow The Best South American Coffee?
Bolivia
Bolivia is the fifth largest country in South America and has a hugely diverse topography, with microclimates and altitudes that are ideal for growing coffee. Most of the coffee grown in Bolivia is Arabica, composed largely of heirloom varietals like Typica and Caturra, and is grown organically.
The climate in this area is very humid and the eastern Andes are prone to high rainfall, which makes drying coffees problematic similar to some areas of neighbouring Peru. Coffee is often laid on tarps on the ground or on flat roofs, meaning it is open to the elements, and prone to moisture absorption and slow drying times, which in turn can lead to overfermentation.
Brazil
Brazilian coffees are primarily known for their heavy body and nuttiness in the cup, but there are also certain beans that would give you a bit of acidity and balance. However, generally speaking, these coffees are all about the body. Varietals you will find in Brazilian coffee are Bourbon, Typica, Caturra, Catimor, Maragogype.
They produce over a third of the world's coffee. The strength or weakness of the global coffee market is largely governed by what happens in Brazil, such as the size of its yearly harvest. El Nino the weather system that dictates climatic conditions in the country during the summer months also has a major impact on the coffee futures market. The states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Paraná are the largest producers due to suitable terroir: elevation, climate and rich soil. Most plantations are harvested in the dry months of May to July.
Colombia
Colombia is the third largest producer of coffee in the world after Brazil and Vietnam though holds the crown for being the largest producer of washed Arabica. Their most known varietals are Columbian Supremo, Medellin. Colombia has three secondary mountain ranges (cordilleras) that run towards the Andes and it is amongst these ranges that the majority of coffee is grown.
The hilly terrain provides a wide variety of micro-climates, meaning that harvesting can take place throughout the year as coffee from different farms will ripen at varying times.
Peru
Peru is the ninth largest coffee producer in the world, with popular varietals like Typica, Bourbon, Caturra, Pache. They are the third largest in South America. Most of Peru's coffee farms are less than 2-3 hectares in size, and spread across three main growing areas these are usually defined as North (Amazonas, Cajamarca, San Martin), Central (Junin) and South (Cusco, Ayacucho, and Puno).
Whilst conditions are optimal for the production of good quality coffee, there are significant challenges in relation to farm's geographic isolation, the lack of adequate processing facilities and volatility in price. The Peruvian coffees tend to be intensely bright and light-bodied. Pleasing nutty character and chocolaty aroma of certain of these coffees lead to a nice, long finish. Peru also offers a decent array of certified varietals grown without synthetic fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides.
Ecuador
Ecuador became famous for growing beans that made great instant coffee, still a staple in many Ecuadorian households. While large plantations still exist, recent coffee production is turning to smaller, family-run farms and specialty beans.
Both Arabica and Robusta coffees are grown in Ecuador. Typica, Bourbon, and Caturra Arabica coffee varietals are common and are either dry- or wet-processed.
Most of Ecuador's sizable coffee production is consumed in-country, and is usually thin to medium body coffee with sharp acidity; however, there is a growing effort to market coffee abroad.Venezuela
Now producing about one percent of the world's coffee, most of it consumed at home, Venezuela once rivaled Colombia in coffee production for South American coffee. Coffee production occurs in the Coast Range and the western Andean region. The coffee production system followed in the Andes region, which is the premontane moist forest, is a multilayered system (3 to 4 layered canopies) in which there are multi-species of plants.
In this system, trees provide the shade needed for growth of coffee. This region is a part of the three geographical regions of Venezuela namely, the Mountains and Caribbean Coastal region, the Llanos region, and the Orinoco River Delta region, and the Guayana region. The plantations are generally in the altitudinal range of 1,000_x0096_5,000 feet (300_x0096_1,520 m), bordering with Colombia. Better grades are noted at elevations of 6,000 feet (1,800 m) or higher but these elevations are characterized by slower growth and lower productivity. The regional favorite varietal, Merida is a delicious, light and sweetly acidic pure bread that makes it a favorite underdog for those lucky enough to find it. Coffees from this area usually are called Maracaibos, after the port through which they are shipped, and may include one coffee, Cúcuta, that is actually grown in Colombia but may be shipped through Maracaibo. The best-known Maracaibo coffees, in addition to Cúcuta, are Mérida, Trujillo, and Táchira. Mérida typically displays fair to good body and an unemphatic but sweetly pleasant flavor with hints of richness. Táchira and Cúcuta resemble Colombia, with rich acidity, medium body, and occasional fruitiness. Regardless of the market name, the highest grade of Venezuela coffee is Lavado Fino, meaning "fine, washed."
