Coffee regions

In a well-investigated and detailed report (pdf) released yesterday, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) revealed that robusta coffee is being illegally grown in southern Sumatra, with most being purchased by large coffee producers such as Kraft and NestlÁ©.

Revised on April 23, 2021

Nasty old Brazilian coffee

by JulieCraves on December 19, 2006

My inability to completely connect the dots here is a testament to the lack of transparency of the big four mega coffee roasters and where they get their beans. Dot 1: Brazil, the world’s #2 coffee grower, has experienced drought…

Revised on November 28, 2020

Plainspoken Coffee. A Coffee Review for Ordinary People by Ordinary People, #9. El Salvador is a small Central American country with a troubled past. It has been largely deforested, with coffee plantations providing most of the remaining “forested” areas in…

Revised on January 7, 2022

Veracruz, Mexico

by JulieCraves on October 6, 2006

I am attending the North American Ornithological Conference in Veracruz, Mexico. Coffee breaks are catered by Consejo Regulador del Cafe Veracruz, the organization that regulates and certifies “Cafe Veracruz” labeled coffee, guaranteeing origin and quality. Veracruz state is on the…

Revised on November 12, 2012

RA certifies in Africa

by JulieCraves on September 21, 2006

Rainforest Alliance has announced its first certification for coffee outside Latin America, certifying a group of 678 farms in the Djimmah region of Ethiopia, according to a report in Tea & Coffee Trade Journal. RA’s certification requirements are not focused…

Revised on November 28, 2020

A short article entitled “Quality of Vietnamese coffee poor” appeared recently on a Vietnam news site.

Revised on January 29, 2022

NYT Rwanda coffee article

by JulieCraves on August 8, 2006

On Sunday, August 6, the New York Times business section had an excellent article on coffee growing in Rwanda.

Revised on January 7, 2022

Attention: Nicaragua

by JulieCraves on July 18, 2006

The situation and the role of coffee: Nicaraguan coffee made recent news, with a story on how organic coffee is losing its appeal to Nicaraguan coffee farmers. About 10% of the country’s coffee exports are organic, but producers feel there…

Revised on January 7, 2022

There’s so much stuff at Sweet Maria’s web site, seems like every time you visit you find another nugget. I found a great table of information on when the peak harvest and best shipping times are for coffee crops around…

Revised on November 14, 2019

Attention: East Timor

by JulieCraves on June 28, 2006

I’d like to occasionally profile a coffee-growing country, where the current situation merits special attention from coffee consumers, whose purchase of sustainable coffee from the country can provide extra benefit. I’ll try to include these items: the current status, why…

Revised on November 28, 2020

Coffee growing in Asia

by JulieCraves on May 30, 2006

Since shade certification is not available for coffee grown outside of Latin America, it can be helpful to understand coffee cultivation practices in the Old World.

Revised on March 4, 2021

According to this article in Financial Express, by 2007, ten percent (about 1 million 60 kg bags) of Colombia’s coffee will be certified by social and environmental programs. One of these programs is the Rainforest Alliance sustainable agriculture program (my…

Revised on November 14, 2019

Since shade certification is not available for coffee grown outside of Latin America, it can be helpful to understand coffee cultivation practices in the Old World. This can help consumers choose sustainable coffees. Certified organic is a good choice where…

Revised on November 14, 2019

Today’s New York Times travel section had an article on touring Colombia’s Coffee Trail, the area to the west of Bogota known as Eje Cafetero. It talks about how one can stay at various fincas and haciendas, with part of…

Revised on November 14, 2019

Coffee from an amazing project helping rebuild the Rwandan coffee industry after the crippling 1994 genocide.

Revised on November 22, 2020