Countries where coffee tends to be grown at very high altitude, include:
• Columbia
• Ethiopia
• Guatemala
• Kenya

Beans produced at a high altitude can be found in:
• Costa Rica
• Java
• Nicaragua
• Mexico Altura
• Sumatra

Coffee beans grown at a medium altitude can be found in:
• Brazil

Countries where coffee is often grown at low altitude, include:
• Hawaii

• Vietnam

Diagram to explain link between coffee growing and altitiude

Coffee and altitude

Coffee grown at higher altitudes is more likely to be fuller in flavour, delicious and with fruity, floral and spicy notes. Grown slightly lower down and the coffee beans have more of a vanilla, chocolate and nut flavour.

Why is this? Well, the cooler air at higher altitudes slows down the growth rate of the plants and this allows the coffee cherry more time to mature. In turn, the sugars in the cherry take longer to develop and the mature bean is more aromatic and has more complex flavours.

And something to remember, almost all high altitude coffee is Arabica and this means premium quality beans. Here at Hortus we only use the best quality beans for our coffee.

Coffee plantation in the Coffee Triangle of Colombia

Coffee and altitude

Coffee grown at higher altitudes is more likely to be fuller in flavour, delicious and with fruity, floral and spicy notes. Grown slightly lower down and the coffee beans have more of a vanilla, chocolate and nut flavour.

Why is this? Well, the cooler air at higher altitudes slows down the growth rate of the plants and this allows the coffee cherry more time to mature. In turn, the sugars in the cherry take longer to develop and the mature bean is more aromatic and has more complex flavours.

And something to remember, almost all high altitude coffee is Arabica and this means premium quality beans. Here at Hortus we only use the best quality beans for our coffee.