The World's Best Coffees

Coffee sometimes accompanies a conversation, sometimes makes us wake up in the morning, and sometimes makes it easier to focus during busy working hours. Whatever our reason for drinking, this black seed herb has become one of the important parts of our lives. The history of coffee, the best coffees in the world, the countries where coffee is grown, types of coffee beans, cooking methods and the journey of coffee waiting for you in this article. After reading this article, I guarantee that your general knowledge about coffee will increase significantly. 

History of Coffee

The first known coffee bean was found in Ethiopia. Although it is not known exactly before, the homeland of the coffee bean is considered to be Africa. While there are many legends about the discovery of coffee, the most common is a shepherd's tale. Shepherd Kaldi, suspecting that the goats are very active, chases after what they are doing and realizes that they are so energetic because of a plant seed they eat. He also eats the seeds and feels alive and energetic and takes them to the imam of the village. Thus, the discovery of coffee took place. 

After its first discovery, coffee was tried to be consumed in different ways. It was thrown into water like tea and turned into flour. It took a long time for coffee to be consumed as today's beverage. 

After reaching Yemen on the Spice Route from Ethiopia, coffee began to experience its golden age. The Ottoman Empire's meeting with coffee caused coffee to become widespread in Europe and then to the Americas. Let me add that mocha is the name of a port in Yemen as a general culture.  

Coffee Belt 

The coffee belt is the name given to the geography that is located in the tropical belt around the equator line and where almost all of the coffee production in the world takes place. The best coffees of the world are grown in this belt. The tropical region in the middle of the world, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, is the coffee belt. The coffee belt includes Central and South America, Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia and is grown in nearly 80 countries. The world's best and most beautiful coffees are also grown on this line. The most suitable climate for the coffee plant, which grows at high altitudes, in a humid environment and at temperatures around 21 degrees, is this tropical climate zone. 

The taste and aroma of coffee varies depending on the soil, humidity level, sun exposure time and other plants grown in that region, climate and natural conditions. For example, coffees in the citrus-growing region have a citrus flavor. When you buy gourmet coffee beans, the height of the bean growing place, other growing information around it and which flavors it carries are included as information on the package. 

Types of Coffee Beans

Now, when you go to one of the coffee shops that we try to see everywhere, you will encounter many types of coffee on the menu. However, there are only 3 types of coffee beans in the world. These coffee types are Arabica, Robusta, Liberica and Excelsa. Due to the different harvesting, processing and cooking methods of these different species, different flavors and coffee varieties are offered to us. 

• Arabica Coffee Bean: The most consumed and produced coffee bean type is Arabica. Between 75-80% of the world's coffee consumption consists of Arabica beans. These are coffees that are low in caffeine and high in flavor and aroma. Arabica, which is a sensitive type of coffee, has different aromas and flavors depending on where it is grown, as it takes the odors of the geography where it is grown. 
• Robusta Coffee Bean: Caffeine rate is 2.5% higher than other types of coffee beans, it is mostly preferred in espresso coffees due to its low acidity and hard drinking. Vietnam is the largest producer of Robusta coffee. 
• Liberica Coffee Bean: It is the least produced type of coffee bean in the world. It is grown in a restricted area in the Philippines. Compared to other coffees, it has a sooty aroma. 

It should not be forgotten that there are many subspecies under the main core types. Around 70 different coffee beans are produced in the coffee belt. 

Countries Growing the World's Best Coffees

I have a theory about coffee production and coffee flavor. If the local people in the coffee producing country also drink coffee and cook coffee with their own unique methods, coffee culture can be mentioned in that country. For example, Vietnam and Ethiopia stand out with their unique coffee cooking and brewing methods. These countries are my two favorite types of coffee. 

I mentioned that coffee is grown in nearly 80 countries in the coffee belt. There are 10 of these countries, which meet a very large part of the world's coffee production and you can see them in many places. Let's take a closer look at coffee producing countries and their coffees. 

1. Brazil – Arabica 

Brazil, which is famous for its natural beauties, lively, lively, excited people, and magnificent beaches, meets 35% of the world's coffee production alone. Thus, it is the largest coffee producer in the world. In the country, which is spread over a very wide geography, coffees with chocolate and hazelnut aromas and high acidity are also used in the production of Turkish coffee. Brazilian coffees are processed by drying in the sun without washing. It differs from other producing countries with this processing technique. 

2. Colombia – Arabica

It is possible to talk about a magnificent nature when describing almost all the countries in the tropics. Unfortunately, Colombia is mostly known in the world for its narcotic history. This fame spread all over the world, especially after the TV series Narcos, which tells the life of Pablo Escobar. Returning to the subject of coffee, Colombia is the third largest coffee producer in the world, after Brazil and Vietnam. In terms of coffee flavor, it is possible to say that it is higher in the ranking. In addition, tours where you can visit coffee plantations in Colombia have come to the fore as a more common tourism compared to other countries. 

3. Ethiopia – Arabica

The homeland of coffee is Ethiopia. Ethiopia is one of the most diverse countries I have ever visited, which promises a lot of cultural richness and has regions where tribes still live in the 21st century. Ethiopian coffee was my favorite coffee until I went to Vietnam. I especially loved their intense coffee served in cups resembling stemless Turkish coffee cups cooked in earthen pots using local methods. Ethiopian coffees are among the most delicious coffees in the world, thanks to the climate and the possibilities offered by the vegetation. With the Italians bringing the cult of espresso to the country, Ethiopia has added machine coffee to its traditional cooking methods, and the taste of coffee is magnificent in both cooking methods. 

Famous Ethiopian Coffee You can find more in my article.

4. Kenya – Arabica

Kenya is the first country that comes to mind when it comes to wildlife and safari in Africa. Another thing as popular as the wildlife in Kenya is its coffee. I cannot help but say that it is not possible to drink a delicious Kenyan coffee while walking around the streets in Kenya, and that the people do not have a coffee culture. Kenyan coffees are the most preferred coffees especially in Europe and America with their fruity aromas. 

safari in kenya Our adventure may interest you.

5. Vietnam – Robusta 

Vietnam, which is one of the favorite countries of travelers with its magnificent nature, warm-blooded people, street delicacies and economical travel opportunities, is the largest producer of Robusta coffee beans in the world and the second largest country that exports coffee to the world after Brazil. Vietnam has managed to get its economy back on its feet thanks to coffee production from the difficult war years. Vietnamese coffee is my favorite coffee, along with Ethiopia. However, it is among the hardest coffee varieties to find in Turkey. 

Vietnam has its own method of brewing coffee, and you can easily make this brew yourself by buying coffee pots that you can only find in Vietnam. Also, Vietnam's famous egg coffee; It is prepared with egg yolk, sugar, condensed milk and robusta coffee. Be careful when ordering coffee in Vietnam. If you want coffee with milk, it is made with condensed milk* and it is definitely sweetened. If you want to drink unsweetened and milky coffee, you must specify that you want your coffee with fresh milk. 

*Concentrated milk or condensed milk; Condensed milk with or without added sugar, reduced in volume by evaporation of water.

How to make Vietnamese coffee? take a look at my post.

6. Mexico – Arabica 

Ancient cities, natural wonders, cenotes, white beaches and great food. That's too little to describe Mexico. Coffee production in Mexico takes place in areas close to the border with Guatemala. Mexican coffee, which is produced in small farms rather than large cultivated areas, finds buyers mostly in America. 

You can drink very good coffee in many local coffee chains, especially in Mexico City.

To learn more about Mexico Meksika Check out my posts in the category.

7. Uganda – Arabica & Robusta

How many people do you think of when you think of Uganda? Uganda, famous for its rainforests and endangered gorillas, says that I am also involved in coffee. Even though it has been overshadowed by Ethiopian and Kenyan coffees, Ugandan coffee is one of the coffees that has been increasing in popularity in recent years. Another advantage is that different coffee beans are grown in different regions of the country. 

8. Indonesia – Arabica & Robusta

Indonesia, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world with its geography consisting of thousands of islands and a life formed by the fusion of Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim cultures, is in the first place in coffee marketing if you ask me with different types of coffee, although it is not in the first place in production. Coffee, which is not in the country's own culture, was brought to Indonesia by the Dutch colonists and the coffees in the different islands of the country, which consists of 18.000 islands, gained popularity with the names of the islands.

Especially in Bali, coffee tours are one of the most common activities. You can taste coffees with different aromas as in the photo above.

The most popular coffee in Indonesia is Kupi Luwak, coffee obtained from the feces of a cat breed is among the most expensive coffees in the world. As someone who has tried Kupi Luwak and many different Indonesian coffees, I can say that it is not in the first place for me in terms of taste. It is also regrettable that they have taken the poor animals from their natural habitats and crammed them into farms in order to obtain coffee. 

I wrote for Indonesia, where we traveled for 2 weeks. places to visit in indonesia Check out my post too.

9. India – Arabica & Robusta

When you think of coffee, do you think of India? Obviously not mine. However, Arabica and Robusta coffees are produced in some regions of this colorful country, which is spread over a large geography. With the drying method, Indian coffees differ from other countries' coffees. Indian coffee is dried by monsoon winds in large and open warehouses. Although India has gained a reputation for tea production, it is possible to participate in coffee tours, especially in the south of the country. 

10. Guatemala – Arabica & Robusta

Carrying the traces of the Mayan civilization, Guatemala is home to the best quality coffees of Central America. Coffees grown in the high parts of the country are on the radar of coffee lovers with their beautiful aromas. Antigua city, as the coffee capital of the country, also hosts tourists who want to join coffee tours. 

Of course, it is possible to add other countries to this list, this list includes the most preferred countries in terms of both production and taste. 

Coffee Brewing Methods 

Coffee has a very important place in our culture. It is not said for nothing that "A cup of coffee has forty years of memory". Although Anatolia did not provide a suitable climate for coffee cultivation, it played an important role in the spread of coffee culture to the world. Let's take a look at coffee cooking methods, especially Turkish Coffee. 

1. Cooking Coffee in a Coffee Pot 
2. Brewing with French Press 
3. Filter Coffee Machine 
4. Espresso Machine 
5. Mocha Pot
6. Pour Over – New Generation Manual Filter Coffee Brewing
7. Cold brew

Although the last 2 ingredients are the techniques that have increased their popularity in recent years, coffees made with traditional methods are always my favourite. If I have the opportunity in the countries I visit, I always prefer coffee made with traditional methods. 

We have opened a door in the journey of coffee, I hope we have been of little help in the development of your coffee culture. 

It is now possible to find almost all of these coffees in Turkey. If you want to order coffee from your home, Coffee Shops Where You Can Order Coffee Online take a look at my post.

The edited version of the World's Best Coffees was published in the Skyroad November 2020 issue with the title The Journey of Coffee.