Central & North America

Coffee from this region, along with Colombia, has had the largest influence on North American tastes and preferences. Not surprisingly, Central America is an important contributor to global coffee supply.

In describing these coffees, the word balance often comes up. Their fruit-like characteristics often play nice as a mild backdrop to the cocoa and spice flavors.

• Costa Rica
• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Hawaii
• Honduras
• Mexico
• Nicaragua

South America

Sweet and medium-bodied, Colombian coffees have the most recognizable flavor to most North Americans.  The classic Colombian profile — as with other better-quality coffees from Peru, etc. — brings together a mellow acidity and a strong caramel sweetness, perhaps with a nutty undertone.

Brazil gets a special mention as the world’s largest coffee producer.  Some Brazilian beans — especially those that are pulped natural or "Brazil natural" — have pronounced sweet, roasted-nut notes and a heavy body that makes them popular in espresso blends. Chocolate and some spice are typical as well, creating a unique profile.

• Brazil
• Colombia
• Peru

 

Africa

Out of East Africa and Arabia (Yemen), coffee profiles offer distinctive wine and fruit tones, medium body, and a fragrant floral aroma.

Most of the quality coffee that comes from this area is wet processed, with the exception of Yemen and the Harrar region of Ethiopia (while increasingly other regions are dry processing). Yemen and Harrar coffees are naturally processed and can be quite delicious, dry and fruity with a sweet, full body.

• Ethiopia
• Kenya
• Rwanda
• Tanzania

Asia

Indonesian coffees tend to have a deep, dark, almost meaty earthiness and aromatic spiciness to them. Sumatran coffees in particular take to dark roasting well, and so smoky and toasted flavors are often present in the cup.

Other coffees will have a stouty or mushroom-like complexity that is both savory and herbaceous, and elicit a long, lasting finish that recalls very dark or unsweetened cocoa.

• India
• Indonesia
• Vietnam