Coffee Notes Around the World
Many coffee drinkers around the globe regard the drink as integral to their daily routine yet may have minimal idea of where their favorite pick-me-up originates. Knowing where one’s coffee comes from out of 50 possible countries promotes greater awareness culturally and economically and encourages drinkers to pay more attention to the subtle flavor differences. As such coffee lovers will come to find, there is an astonishing range of flavor notes and characteristics available to consumers, depending on the location of growth and farming.
The Americas
Mexican coffee, mostly Arabia, is typically described as having a lower acidic profile. The flavor tends to be lighter and is noted as having a nuttiness. Farther south, coffee varieties hailing from Central America are known for their body balance, acidity, and fruit-like notes. Guatemala produces coffees with a brightness to their acidity, rounded out by sweetness and chocolate-like aspects. Honduras, the key coffee producer in the Central region, similarly provides hints of chocolate, along with some varieties subtly reminiscent of citrus fruits.
Moving on to South America, Colombia is known for producing strains with balanced flavor profiles and sweetness, great for those favoring milder flavors. Brazilian coffees tend to have a heavier body, though they retain a mellowness complete with buttery, nutty, and cacao-like hints.
Eastern Africa
Cultivated coffee types from this region of the African continent are most well-known for their fruity hints and acidity. Ethiopia, which boasts the origins of the coffee plant, features Arabica strains with a medium body similar to tea and tropical notes. Uganda cultivates both Arabica and Robusta plants, the latter being favorable for espresso blends. Coffees from this country stand out with their possible notes of nougat and fruits ranging from citrus, stone fruit (like peaches), and berries. Furthermore, Kenyan plants often have a characteristic hint of grapefruit and a wine-like dry acidity. Rwanda and Burundi are similarly appreciated for their production of sweetness and fuller bodies.
The Middle East
Yemen is the only coffee-producing country in the Middle East and was the first region to cultivate and commercialize the drink purposely. To this day, most coffee fruits, and beans from the area are processed just as they were centuries ago. The Yemeni coffee plants used in the process are renowned for producing a satisfying earthiness, pungence, musky depth, and complexity. Such characteristics make varieties from this country stand out for possessing similar qualities to cacao. However, the flavor profile doesn’t end there. Yemeni strains are also known for their fruity hints similar to raisins, rich wine-like acidity, and aromatic hints reminiscent of wood and incense.
Asia
Journeying on to South Asia, India has a tendency to grow coffee in shady areas next to spice and fruit plants. This gives this country’s varieties a unique profile of subtle spiciness, woodiness, and smoky properties. This is completed with satisfying richness, sweetness, and a full body. Farther to the east, Indonesia produces distinct strains mostly on its island of Sumatra. Known for their boldness, coffee beans from here possess an earthy and somewhat smoky quality similar to India. Vietnam stands out in mainland Asia as predominantly Robusta beans, more bitter and less aromatic than Arabica varieties. This type of coffee is especially appreciated for espresso-based drinks.
Fatemi Coffee is the ideal source for quality Yemeni coffee, offering both individual customers and wholesale buyers unique flavors and the opportunity to support local communities and rich farming practices. Check out our tasty drinks today and feel good about your purchase in support of a wholesome small business.