Altitude preference for coffee tree

Coffee quality is determined by organoleptic characteristics (cup quality), physical appearance and chemical constituents. Coffee from high altitude with open or medium shade and early to middle harvest periods had a superior bean quality.

As coffee species do not tolerate large changes in seasonality, yet do not flourish in very hot conditions, altitude is also an important factor. For every 100 m, temperature decreases on average by 0.6 °C. Higher altitudes in tropical regions, therefore, offer a cool environment where the yearly temperature does not fluctuate drastically, providing an ideal climate for coffee cultivation.

Air temperature factors have a direct effect on the growth of coffee plants, especially the formation of flowers and fruits and sensitivity to disease attacks. In general, high temperatures are affected by the altitude of the sea surface.

While the height of the appropriate place for the growth of Arabica coffee is 1000-2000m above sea level, whose temperature conditions range from 15 °C to 24 °C, and for the Robusta coffee <700 meters above sea level, whose temperature conditions range from 24 °C-30 °C.

C. canephora prefers a hotter climate and is more adapted to the lowlands (below 900 m altitude), though quality improves with altitude.
Altitude preference for coffee tree

Arabica coffee species

The two main types grown for export are coffea arabica and coffea robusta. Coffea arabica L. (Rubiaceae) grows naturally as bush or small tree up to 4-6 m tall in the shaded understory of montae rainforest in southwestern and southeastern Ethiopian. Some are also reported in southeastern Sudan and northern Kenya.

The wild Ethiopian population occurs at altitude between 1000 and 2000 m asl with the most suitable range being 1,500 – 1,800 m asl. Coffee tolerates annual rainfall between 900 and 1,300 mm yr, but most appropriate are conditions above 1,300 mm yr with an optimum at 1,600 -1,800 mm yr.

The natural extent of Coffea arabica does not overlap with any species of Coffea. Geographically closest are C. eugenioides Moore occurring in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Western Kenya, Tanzania and C. canephora Pierre ranging from Uganda to central and West Africa.

Today, 80% of the world’s coffee comes from the coffea arabica plant. Brazil is the top producer, supplying about 30% of the world’s coffee. About 85% of Brazil’s plantations grow coffee arabica.
Arabica coffee species