Coffee Belt: What Is It and Where Is It Located?
Updated - Team Colipse
The coffee belt is a region between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn where most of the world's coffee is grown. The Coffee Belt includes parts of Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Coffee grows best in the coffee belt because the region offers ideal conditions, including a stable tropical climate, consistent humidity, and abundant rainfall.
The main countries in the coffee belt include Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The coffee Bblt faces several challenges including climate change, rising production costs, and labor shortages. To choose the best coffee beans from the coffee belt, select beans grown at high altitudes, harvested when ripe, and sourced from reputable coffee brands.
What is the Coffee Belt?
The Coffee Belt is the tropical region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn where almost all coffee grows. The Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn are two latitude lines located at 23.5° north and 23.5° south of the equator. They mark the most northerly and southerly points where the sun can appear directly overhead during the solstices.
However, the actual coffee growing belt extends slightly beyond these lines. The coffee bean belt covers geographic regions between 25°N and 30°S latitude and about 11 million hectares. This zone covers 47 degrees of latitude and measures roughly 10,000 kilometers in total width. The coffee belt stretches effectively around the entire globe along the equator. The coffee belt region includes major coffee-producing countries like Brazil, Ethiopia, Colombia, and Vietnam, as shown in the diagram below.
The coffee belt is called a bean belt, coffee growing belt, or coffee production belt because it forms a horizontal band around the Earth's equator where coffee grows best. The bean belt produces most Arabica coffee due to steady tropical heat, high elevation, good soil, and regular rain that slow bean development and enhance flavor, acidity, and aroma.
Where is the Coffee Belt Located?
The coffee bean belt is located between 25 degrees north and 30 degrees south, according to Dave S. Reay, a climate change scientist and professor at the University of Edinburgh. The latitude range of the coffee belt may vary slightly across scientific and industry sources. The National Coffee Association (NCA) defines the coffee belt as the region between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, roughly 25° north to 30° south latitude. A 2019 study by Gilberto V. de Melo Pereira from Federal University of Paraná published in Food Chemistry states the coffee bean belt spans between 30°N and 30°S latitude.
Why is the Coffee Belt Important?
The coffee belt is one of the world’s most important agricultural regions for coffee production because it represents a vital economic area for over 25 million farmers across 70 countries on five continents, according to the FAO's 2021 Crop Statistics. These lands depend on coffee farming for income, employment, and local economies. According to a 2025 study by Mukhlish Jamal Musa Holle from University of Indonesia published in Cleaner and Circular Bioeconomy, coffee growing belt is projected to experience a 50–163% increase in coffee demand by 2050.
What Makes the Coffee Belt Ideal for Coffee Production?
Coffee grows best in the coffee belt because this region offers ideal cultivation conditions like stable tropical climate, consistent humidity and rainfall, cool high-altitude conditions, rich volcanic soils, natural shade systems, and strong ecosystem biodiversity, all of which support slow maturation, high cup quality, and healthy coffee trees.
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Rainfall
- Altitude
- Soil
- Biodiversity
1. Temperature
Temperature refers to the average air warmth measured in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit that affects coffee plant growth. The coffee belt area has ideal temperatures between 60°F and 70°F (15°C to 24°C), according to a 2025 study by Xiaogang Liu from Kunming University of Science and Technology published in Scientific Reports. This temperature range reduces frost risk and promotes flowering. Because temperature extremes are rare, the coffee belt zone faces fewer pest and pathogen outbreaks due to lower climate-driven disease volatility.
2. Humidity
Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air expressed as relative humidity (RH). The coffee bean belt provides ideal humidity: 60% for Arabica and 70–75% for Robusta, according to Frédéric Descroix and Jacques Snoeck in the book Coffee: Growing, Processing, Sustainable Production. These levels stabilize transpiration, support leaf function, and prevent moisture stress during flowering and cherry formation. Consistent humidity limits fungal diseases, reduces moisture fluctuations, and allows for uniform tree growth.
3. Rainfall
Rainfall refers to the total amount and seasonal distribution of precipitation a coffee-growing region receives. The coffee belt area delivers 1,200–2,000 mm of annual rainfall ideal for coffee growth, according to a 2025 study by Carlos Andres Unigarro from National Coffee Research Center (Cenicafé) published in Plants. This range supports steady vegetative growth and healthy cherry development. Arabica plants thrive when dry seasons trigger flowering and rainy seasons grow fruit. Consistent precipitation prevents drought stress, reduces irregular flowering, and stabilizes water levels during the coffee plant’s growth cycle. Conversely, excess rainfall keeps buds dormant and causes defects such as star flowers and skin cracking.
4. Altitude
Altitude refers to the elevation, measured in meters above sea level (masl), where coffee is grown. The coffee belt is famous for high-altitude regions ranging from 600 to 2,000 masl that produce denser beans with brighter acidity and complex flavors. A 2025 study by Katia Choque-Quispe from José María Arguedas National University reports that Arabica grown above 1,050 masl develops brighter acidity, more sweetness, and complex aromas due to slower cherry maturation at cooler temperatures. Furthermore, a 2024 study from Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS) found that higher altitudes in Pu’er, China improved coffee quality by raising fatty acids, lowering caffeine and chlorogenic acids, and enhancing sweet, caramel-like aromas.
5. Soil Quality
Soil quality refers to the soil’s ability to support healthy plant growth through nutrient availability, structure, drainage, and water regulation. The coffee belt is dominated by Andisols and volcanic soils formed from volcanic ash and rich in short-range order minerals such as allophane, imogolite, and ferrihydrite, according to a 2022 study by Hifnalisa Hifnalisa of Syiah Kuala University. These soils retain nutrients efficiently, drain well, and support Arabica due to their natural richness in organic matter.
6. Biodiversity
Biodiversity refers to the variety of plant, animal, and microbial life in and around coffee farms. The coffee belt is a biodiversity hotspot with rich communities of birds, insects, trees, and soil microbes, according to a 2022 study by Livia Rasche published in Global Ecology and Biogeography. This biodiversity improves pest control, enhances pollination, builds soil fertility, increases climate resilience, supports healthier plants, and ensures stable long-term coffee yields.
What Are the Main Countries in the Coffee Belt?
The main countries in the coffee belt include Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Coffee is cultivated across the coffee belt in over 70 tropical countries, according to 2019 data from the International Coffee Organization (ICO). The coffee belt includes countries from South America, North America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The three major continents in the coffee belt are South America, Africa, and Asia. The top 10 countries in the coffee belt are listed below.
- Brazil
- Vietnam
- Colombia
- Indonesia
- Ethiopia
- Uganda
- India
- Honduras
- Peru
- Mexico
What South American Countries are in the Coffee Belt?
The South American countries in the coffee belt include Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Venezuela. Smaller-scale production also occurs in Paraguay, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.
What North American Countries are in the Coffee Belt?
Countries in the coffee belt from North America include Mexico and the United States (specifically Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and California), along with Central American countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama, and Caribbean nations like Jamaica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Guadeloupe, and Martinique.
What African Countries are in the Coffee Belt?
The African countries in the coffee belt include Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Madagascar, Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Togo, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Gabon.
What Asian Countries are in the Coffee Belt?
The Asian countries in the coffee belt include Vietnam, Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Thailand, Yemen, Laos, Myanmar, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Malaysia.
What Are the Challenges Facing the Coffee Belt?
The main challenges facing the coffee belt include climate change, environmental degradation, economic pressures, and labor issues.
- Environmental Challenges: The coffee belt faces rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and expanding pest threats caused by climate change. Shrinking coffee regions push farmers to deforest higher altitudes, destroying ecosystems and cutting carbon absorption. Switching to sun-tolerant coffee accelerates habitat loss and pesticide use, harming biodiversity, the environment, and public health.
- Economic Challenges: Coffee producers face rising costs from inflation, fuel, labor, and fertilizer. Trade uncertainties, tariffs, and sanctions disrupt planning and threaten smallholder access to global markets. Countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Colombia, and Brazil face tariff risks. Small farmers also struggle to meet EU deforestation regulations, limiting their market reach.
- Labor Shortages: Labor shortages worsen as young workers leave coffee regions for cities or other jobs. Aging farmers and rough terrain limit mechanization, making coffee harvesting inefficient and reducing yield and quality. Some farms improve labor conditions and adopt machines, but these efforts remain limited in scale.
How is Climate Change Affecting the Coffee Belt?
Climate change is reshaping the geography and suitability of coffee-growing zones across the bean belt, especially in low-altitude regions. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and increased pests are lowering yields and quality, especially for Arabica. A 2020 study by Anisah Muslihah from Universitas Gadjah Mada shows that Indonesia could lose up to 67% of its highly suitable Arabica land by 2050, with only 28% transitioning into newly suitable areas.
The climate change shifts in bean belt reduce crop quality by disrupting timing, development, and yield. For instance, a 1°C drop in minimum temperature during bean maturation reduced yield by 18.9%, while higher vapor-pressure deficit during flowering further lowered yields in subtropical China, according to a 2025 study by Xiaojie Wang published in npj Natural Hazards.
Which Countries Have the Best Beans in the Coffee Belt?
The best beans in the Coffee Belt come from Ethiopia, Colombia, Brazil, and Kenya. Ethiopia produces bright, floral beans; Colombia is known for balanced, mild coffee; Brazil offers nutty, chocolatey notes; and Kenya produces bold, fruity flavors. These countries that grow coffee combine ideal climates, altitude, and processing methods for superior coffee quality.
As a top example, Ethiopia produces the highly-rated Yirgacheffe beans. This coffee offers floral aromas, bright acidity, and complex citrus notes. Yirgacheffe is grown at high altitudes in Ethiopia’s Sidamo region. Ethiopia is rated among the highest-quality beans in specialty coffee competitions.
Where to Buy Single-origin Coffee from the Coffee Belt?
You can buy single-origin coffee from the coffee belt at colipsecoffee.com. At Colipse Coffee, we offer single-origin coffee beans sourced from 16+ regions across the coffee belt, including Ethiopia, Colombia, Sumatra, and Kenya. Choose beans by origin, flavor profile, altitude, or processing method. Buy online in whole bean or ground form, tailored to your brew style, with free U.S. shipping.