Coffee

Coffee is more than just a morning ritual or a beverage — it is a tropical plantation crop, grown primarily for its beans, which are roasted and ground to produce coffee powder.

India ranks among the top 10 coffee producers globally, though its share is modest compared to Brazil or Vietnam. However, Indian coffee is highly valued for its quality, not just quantity.

There are three main varieties globally:

1. Arabica – smooth, aromatic, and superior in quality.
2. Robusta – stronger, more bitter, and more resistant to pests.
3. Liberica – rare, grown in limited regions.

In India, the focus is mainly on Arabica (49%) and Robusta (51%). Arabica fetches better prices in international markets due to its milder flavor and lower caffeine content.

🌱 Conditions for Growth

Let’s decode what coffee demands from nature.

🌡️ Climate

Coffee is a bit of a “temperamental” crop. It likes balance:

• Temperature: Between 15°C and 28°C. Anything above 30°C, or frost, damages the plant.
• Rainfall: Needs a generous 150–250 cm of annual rainfall, well-distributed.

Coffee prefers shade, cool humidity, and filtered sunlight. Hence, it is often grown under the canopy of trees, unlike crops like wheat or rice.

🧭 Topography

Coffee dislikes water stagnation, so it’s grown on hill slopes — ideally between 600 and 1,600 m above sea level.

• Slopes facing north and east are preferred, as they avoid harsh sunlight and are shielded from strong monsoon winds.

🧱 Soil

• Needs well-drained, friable loams, rich in humus, iron, and calcium.
• The soil must retain moisture but not hold excess water — like a sponge, not a bucket.

🧑‍🌾 Labour

• Coffee is labour-intensive. From planting to picking, it demands skilled, affordable labour — especially for hand-plucking the ripened berries.

🇮🇳 Production and Distribution in India

Though coffee is native to Ethiopia, it was introduced to India in the 17th century by a Sufi saint — Baba Budan — who smuggled seven beans from Yemen and planted them in the hills of Chikmagalur, Karnataka.

Today, coffee cultivation is geographically concentrated in South India:

1. Karnataka – around 70% of India’s coffee

• Key areas: Kodagu (Coorg) and Chikmagalur
• Elevation: ~1,370 m
• Rainfall: 125–150 cm

2. Kerala – around 20%

• Grown at ~1,200 m altitude
• Rainfall: More than 200 cm

3. Tamil Nadu – around 5%

• Mainly in Nilgiris district

Think of it as a triangle — Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu form the coffee zone of India.

Even though India’s overall contribution is small (around 3% globally), it is renowned for its shade-grown, hand-picked, high-altitude arabica beans.

🌍 Global Trade and India’s Role

🌐 Global Leaders

• Brazil (No.1) – accounts for nearly one-third of global production
• Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, Ethiopia are next top producers.

🇮🇳 India’s Position

• 7th largest producer
• Indian coffee is mostly exported to:
  • Europe (Italy, Germany)
  • USA
  • Russia, Iraq, and others

India exports nearly two-thirds of the coffee it produces. This export-oriented nature makes the crop sensitive to global price fluctuations.

🇧🇷 Coffee Industry in Brazil — The Giant of the West

Brazil’s dominance is no accident — it’s a geographic and historic story.

🌤️ Climate & Topography

• Coffee thrives on the eastern and southern slopes of the Brazilian Highlands — a formation much like Ethiopia’s Abyssinian Plateau.
• Volcanic soils rich in minerals and natural fertility reduce the need for fertilizers.

💰 Capital & Labour

• Colonizers brought enslaved Africans and later indentured labourers to work on large fazendas (plantations).
• The post-Boston Tea Party world shifted from tea to coffee — giving Brazil a ready export market in the USA and Europe.

📉 Sri Lanka’s Loss, Brazil’s Gain

• In the 1870s, Sri Lanka’s coffee estates were destroyed by coffee blight.
• Brazil grabbed this market opportunity, and has led the coffee world ever since.

🏔️ Coffee in the Nilgiris – India’s Quiet Contribution

India’s Nilgiri region (the “Blue Mountains”) is ideal for coffee:

• Red soils enriched with iron
• Shaded hill slopes
• Consistent temperature and humidity

Though it doesn’t match Brazil in scale, Indian coffee commands niche markets — particularly in Europe, where buyers value shade-grown, ethically produced coffee.

🧠 Summary – Key Takeaways

Factor	Coffee
Origin	Ethiopia (Abyssinian Plateau)
Ideal Climate	15°–28°C, 150–250 cm rainfall, no frost
Topography	Hill slopes (600–1,600 m elevation)
Soil	Rich, well-drained loams with humus, iron
Indian States	Karnataka (71%), Kerala (22%), TN (6.5%)
Exports	USA, Europe, Russia, Iraq
Global Leader	Brazil (followed by Vietnam, Colombia)