What Continent Produces the Most Coffee? (Solved & Explained!)

The continents that produce the most coffee in the world are South America, Southeast Asia, Africa, Central America, and North America. Brazil, in South America, is the world’s highest coffee producing country. The top 5 countries that produce coffee are Brazil, in South America, Vietnam, in Southeast Asia, Colombia, in South America, Indonesia, in Southeast Asia, and Ethiopia, in Africa.

The following will explore which continents and countries produce the most coffee across the globe, and how much of the world’s coffee production each country accounts for.

Which Countries Produce the Most Coffee?

The countries that produce the most coffee in the world are Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Honduras, India, Uganda, Mexico, and Guatemala. Brazil is the country which produces most of the world’s coffee. South America is the continent which produces the most coffee across the globe, due to Brazil and Colombia being two of the highest producing countries.

What Are the Top 10 Coffee Producing Countries in the World?

1. Brazil
2. Vietnam
3. Colombia
4. Indonesia
5. Ethiopia
6. Honduras
7. India
8. Uganda
9. Mexico
10. Guatemala

What Are the Top 5 Coffee Producing Continents in the World?

1. South America
2. Southeast Asia
3. Africa
4. Central America
5. North America

Brazil – South America

Brazil is the highest coffee producing country in the world, accounting for over a third, or almost 40% of the world’s coffee production. Brazil has been producing coffee since the early 18th century and has been the biggest producer since around the 1840s. The production of coffee is therefore a huge part of the Brazilian economy.

This is because Brazil has a perfect climate for coffee farming, with around 27,000 square kilometres of Brazil making up coffee plantations. Brazil mainly produces Arabica coffee beans, but also Robusta. Coffee is measured in a worldwide standard of 60kg bags, because there were used to export coffee from Brazil throughout history.

Vietnam – Southeast Asia

Vietnam is the second largest coffee producing country in the world, accounting for almost 20% of the world’s coffee. Vietnam has been producing coffee since the 1980s, with production increasing during the 1990s and becoming a large part of the country’s economy.

Vietnamese coffee is made up of 95% Robusta beans and only 5% Arabica. Vietnam produces over 40% of the world’s Robusta coffee beans.

Colombia – South America

Colombia is the third largest coffee producing country in the world, accounting for almost 10% of the world’s coffee. Colombia is known as a famous coffee producing country due to an advertising campaign starring a fictional coffee farmer called Juan – this set the Colombian coffee brand.

Colombia only farms Arabica coffee beans and is the second highest producer of Arabica coffee in the world.

Indonesia – Southeast Asia

Indonesia produces over 5% of the world’s coffee. The country’s climate is ideal for growing coffee and there are around 12,000 square kilometres of coffee farms across the country. 91% of Indonesian coffee is made up of Robusta beans, and 9% Arabica. This makes Indonesia the third largest producer of Robusta coffee in the world.

Indonesia also produces expensive, rare, speciality coffees. The animal Asian palm civets eat coffee beans and these are harvested from their faeces to produce the coffee Kopi Luwak. This is one of the rarest coffees in the world, therefore making it one of the most expensive. These beans are said to have a unique flavor, distinctive from other coffee.

Ethiopia – Africa

Ethiopia is the highest coffee producing country in the African continent and the fifth highest coffee producing country in the world. Ethiopia produces almost 5% of the world’s coffee.

Ethiopia only produces Arabica coffee beans, and not Robusta. This is because Ethiopia is the country where the Arabica coffee plant originated from. Robusta coffee beans are cheaper and therefore Arabica are seen as superior, with fuller, more bodied flavors and less bitter tastes.

Honduras – Central America

Honduras is the highest coffee producing country in Central America and the sixth highest coffee producing country in the world. Honduras produces almost 4% of the world’s coffee. Therefore, coffee production in Honduras plays a huge role in the country and nation’s economy. As with Ethiopia above, Honduras only produces Arabica coffee beans and not Robusta.

During the 1970s and 1990s coffee production in Honduras increased by around 200% due to various laws put in place to encourage coffee production. Honduras is also known for producing speciality coffee.

India – Asia

India is another major coffee producing country in the Asian continent, producing around 3% of the world’s coffee. India is known as one of the early growers of coffee, introduced to the country in the 16th century.

Coffee is produced mainly in the southern part of India. India farms both Robusta and Arabica beans, but mainly Robusta – 73% of Indian coffee is Robusta.

Uganda – Africa

Uganda is the next major coffee producing country in the African continent, producing around 2.5% of the world’s coffee. Uganda produces both Robusta and Arabica beans, but Robusta is farmed as 82% of Ugandan coffee. According to the Uganda Coffee Federation, this is because Robusta plants originated in this area.

Mexico – North America

Mexico is the highest coffee producing country in North America, producing around 2.5% of the world’s coffee. Mexico is the only country in North America that is one of the highest coffee producing countries in the world. During the 1980s coffee plantations spread across the country and it became a significant part of the nation’s economy.

Mexico almost exclusively produces Arabica coffee beans, with 96% of Mexican coffee being Arabica, as it grows near to the border of Guatemala and has similar growing conditions.

Guatemala – Central America

Guatemala is the tenth highest coffee producing country in the world, and the second highest coffee producing country in the Central American continent. Guatemala produces around 2% of the world’s coffee. Arabica makes up 97% of the coffee produced in Guatemala as it has the same climate and conditions to grow coffee as Honduras.