The origin of coffee trading is the countries that produce the bean, which are primarily those found on the bean belt and are grouped around the equator in regions like South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. In geography, the area between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn where coffee beans are grown primarily is called the “coffee bean belt,” or simply “the coffee belt.”
After the coffee cherries are grown and harvested, the farmer feeds them through a pulping machine, which separates the coffee beans covered in mucilage from the cherry skin. The pulper can remove most or all of the mucilage, depending on the farmer’s objectives. These beans set out on an international voyage via a system of middlemen, exporters, and traders.
Arabica and Robusta are the two main varieties of coffee that are traded globally. These two varieties of coffee react differently to different stimuli and differ in important ways.
When the beans are prepared for export, they sail across oceans to countries that import coffee. Here, roasters create the fragrant mixtures we adore out of green beans. To complete the global cycle of coffee trade, the last leg of the journey involves distribution to nearby cafes and grocery stores.
Our world is interconnected, and the rich tapestry this beloved beverage weaves is demonstrated by the story of coffee’s global trade, which spans from high-altitude plantations to your favourite neighbourhood coffee shop.
