Coffee is grown in around 80 countries around the world but Italy is not one of them. The vast majority of Italy’s rugged and varied landscape is not suitable for coffee growth and in the regions that are, the amount of coffee that could be produced is too small for production to be a cost-effective enterprise.
For those of you who love nothing better than starting the day with a delicious cappuccino or delicate macchiato, this article has everything you need to know about Italian coffee, from where it is grown, to popular Italian types of coffee, and Italian coffee exports.
Why Isn’t Coffee Grown in Italy?
Coffee is not grown in Italy because it does not have the right environmental conditions for optimal growth.
All coffee varieties need to grow in a temperate or tropical climate where there is plenty of sunshine and water, and no frost.
Coffee grows best in soils with disintegrated volcanic rock and they thrive when they are grown in high altitudes like mountain ranges and tall hills or any regions around 2,625-7,217 feet (800-2200 meters) above sea level.
For these reasons, all coffee is grown within Earth’s equatorial zone which is between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
This includes the following regions and countries, which are colloquially known as the ‘Bean Belt’:
The Americas: Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Peru, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Cuba, Panama, Bolivia, Paraguay, Venezuela, and Ecuador.
Central Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Madagascar, Gabon, Rwanda, Burundi, Togo, Guinea, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Angola, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Liberia
Island nations: Papua New Guinea, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Philippines, Timor Leste, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Middle East: Yemen
Asia: China and India
South-east Asia: Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, and Thailand.
What Countries Grow the Most Coffee?
The countries that have the highest rates of coffee production have both the correct growing conditions and the support infrastructure that makes it possible to grow, cultivate, package, and export coffee beans.
According to World Atlas, the world’s best coffee exporters are:
- Brazil
- Vietnam
- Columbia
- Indonesia
- Ethiopia
- Honduras
- India
- Uganda
- Mexico
- Guatemala.
Why is Coffee Associated with Italy?
Italian people love their coffee and they have long been associated with coffee preparation, the selection of blends, and the use of coffee equipment.
The story goes as far back as the 16th century when the business-savvy merchants of the Republic of Venice turned a pretty penny trading coffee from Africa and the Middle East.
But it was not initially traded as the delicious drink we enjoy today! It was an expensive remedy for stomach complaints and digestive problems.
Today, Italians are world-renowned coffee drinkers, and for good reason. According to the Global Agricultural Information Network, each Italian consumes 12.7 pounds (5.8 kilograms) of coffee each year!
The Italian methods of brewing coffee are renowned worldwide and that’s why so many of the coffees we love today have Italian names.
The northern port city of Trieste is where most of Italy’s imported coffee is processed. And its residents sure do love their coffee.
According to the Independent newspaper in the United Kingdom, coffee consumption is a whopping 1,500 cups per person each year! That’s more than double the amount of coffee drunk by the average Italian.
What is Italian Coffee?
The Italian style of coffee is flexible so that it can incorporate many coffee varieties. It is more about how the coffee is roasted and prepared than the type of bean that is used.
Italian coffee is usually roasted dark for a strong flavor and rich body. More often than not, it will contain the Robusta variety to enhance the strong flavor and give it that jolt of caffeine.
What types of Italian Coffee Are There?
There are around 20 types of coffee that are popular in Italy, many of them with regional variations. Here are the most popular:
Espresso
This is the most popular way of making coffee in most of Southern Europe including France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, as well as Switzerland, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, and as far away as Australia.
It is brewed by forcing a small amount of nearly boiling water through finely-ground coffee beans. The result is a thick coffee that has the viscosity of warm honey.
And the best part is that with this method, you can use many types of coffee beans.
Espresso coffees are the base for many coffee drinks including caffe latte, caffe macchiato, cappuccino, caffe mocha, flat white, and caffe Americano.
Ristretto
Like the espresso, but shorter.
Double espresso
Twice the amount of the same strong flavor.
Macchiato
A normal espresso, but with a dash of milk.
Marocchino
A normal espresso, with a hint of cacao, chocolate syrup, and milk.
Cappuccino
An espresso with foamy whipped milk.
Caffe latte
A black coffee and milk, in roughly equal quantities.
Affogato
One for those with a sweet tooth – a coffee with a ball of ice cream.
Shakerato
A long espresso mixed with ice and strained.
Caffe Ginseng
A black coffee with ginseng extract.
Cappuccino matcha
A cappuccino where the coffee is replaced with matcha.
Caffe d’orozo
Barley coffee.
Caffe con panna
Black coffee with a topping of whipped cream.
Where does Italy Import its Coffee From?
Most of Italy’s coffee is imported from Brazil and Vietnam. According to the International Coffee Organization, Italian companies process more than 8.3 million bags of green, roasted, and soluble coffee each year.
This makes Italy the second-largest importer of coffee beans in the European Union, behind only Germany.
Does Italy Export its Processed Coffee?
Yes, Italy exports its roasted coffee beans, with over 90% of products consisting of roasted espresso coffee.
According to the Statista Research Department, most of Italy’s coffee (around 35%) is exported to other countries in the European Union including, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Denmark Ireland, and Malta.
Around 27% is exported outside the European Union, including Russia, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.
