Which country has the best coffee? It’s hard to pick just one! Countries like Colombia, Ethiopia, Brazil, Guatemala, and Kenya are known for amazing coffee, but there are so many others with incredible beans to try.
For over a decade, we’ve been sourcing and roasting the highest quality coffee beans and we’re here to share our favourite countries and regions.
Our guide will look at the best coffee growing countries in the world, bean traits specific to each country, and how to choose the best coffee beans for your preferences.
The Top 10 Countries With the Best Coffee
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Colombia
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Mexico
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Papua New Guinea
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Honduras
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Brazil
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Ethiopia
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El Salvador
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Costa Rica
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Guatemala
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Kenya
The Best Coffee Growing Countries Ranked*
*According to us and in no particular order.
1. Colombia
Colombia is one of the most famous coffee growing regions in the world. Columbian coffee beans are highly sought after for their rich, smooth, well-balanced flavour. Expect slightly sweet flavour profiles with hints of dried fruit, honey, caramel notes, and cocoa.
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Bean Type: Arabica
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Flavour Notes: Caramel, nuts, honey, cocoa, dried fruits
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Ideal For: If you like your coffee smooth, balanced, and mild, we recommend Colombian coffee beans.
2. Mexico
Mexican coffee beans feature an incredible smoothness, subtle nuttiness, and delicate flavour profile. Expect delicious notes of hazelnut, cocoa, citrus, and floral.
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Bean Type: Arabica
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Flavour Notes: Nutty, cocoa, hints of citrus and floral
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Ideal For: Coffee lovers looking for a smooth yet flavourful cup of coffee and a light, nutty flavour.
3. Papua New Guinea
Coffee beans from Papua New Guinea feature spicy notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove. We love sipping this earthy flavour profile on crisp mornings on the porch.
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Bean Type: Arabica
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Flavour Notes: Spicy, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, molasses, cocoa
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Ideal For: Coffee enthusiasts seeking an earthy flavour profile and a full-bodied taste.
4. Honduras
Honduran coffee beans feature a diverse flavour profile and delicious smoothness. Its full bodied yet mild overall flavour is slightly sweet and well balanced.
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Bean Type: Arabica
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Flavour Notes: Citrus, caramel, cocoa, nutty, vanilla, floral, fruity
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Ideal For: Coffee lovers who prefer a hint of sweetness and a less bold flavour profile.
5. Brazil
Brazil is one of the leading coffee growing countries in the world, producing around 40% of the global coffee supply.
The mild, well-balanced flavour and smooth finish make Brazilian coffee versatile and widely enjoyed. With full-bodied, aromatic beans and a generally nutty flavour profile with subtle hints of caramel and cocoa, Brazilian coffee beans are one of our personal favourites.
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Bean Type: Arabica
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Flavour Notes: Nutty, cocoa, caramel
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Ideal For: We recommend Brazilian coffee if you prefer smoothness, mild flavour, and versatility.
6. Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a coffee growing region known for unique flavour profiles and bright, bold-tasting beans. Ethiopian coffee features an enticing aroma with fruity and floral notes.
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Bean Type: Arabica
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Flavour Notes: Bright, fruity, floral, blueberry, honey
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Ideal For: With its unique flavour profile and hints of fruity and floral notes, we recommend Ethiopian coffee beans if you love unique, intricate flavours or prefer your coffee black
You May Also Like: How to Choose Coffee Beans | A Simple Guide – Coffee Beans Perth
7. El Salvador
El Salvador coffee beans feature a slightly sweet flavour profile, low acidity, and an overall brightness. With a perfect mix of spicy and sweet notes, El Salvador coffee beans are well balanced and versatile.
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Bean Type: Arabic
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Flavour Notes: Cocoa, honey, citrus, sweet
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Ideal For: We recommend EL Salvador coffee beans if you prefer your coffee on the lighter, sweeter side.
8. Costa Rica
You’ll notice Costa Rican coffee has the most flavour notes of any of the best coffee regions on our list. This is because Costa Rica has a vast range of soil types and microclimates. This creates a variety of coffees with distinct flavour profiles, alluring aromas, and a luxurious, sweet taste.
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Bean Type: Arabica
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Flavour Notes: Sweet fruits, floral, nuts, dark chocolate, caramel, hint of citrus
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Ideal For: The subtle hints of sweetness and unique flavours make Costa Rican coffee ideal if you prefer a lighter, refreshing flavour profile.
9. Guatemala
Guatemala is another one of the best coffee growing regions in the world. With a deep, complex flavour and hints of dark chocolate, Guatemalan coffees are known for their nutty aroma and smooth finish.
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Bean Type: Arabica
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Flavour Notes: Sweet fruits, nuts, dark chocolate, spices
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Ideal For: If you like your coffee full-bodied, complex, and bold, we think you’ll love Guatemalan coffee beans.
10. Kenya
Kenyan coffee beans are full-bodied, unique, and bursting with interesting flavour notes. Coffee enthusiasts who prefer bold, rich flavours often choose Kenyan coffee beans.
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Bean Type: Arabic
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Flavour Notes: Grapefruit, blackberry, cocoa, currants
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Ideal For: With its high acidity and bold flavour profile, we love using Kenyan coffee to make a classic, rich espresso.
Blends vs Single Origin
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Single Origin: Single origin coffee comes from one producer or crop. Single origin beans are then roasted and brewed on their own to fully showcase the bean’s unique characteristics.
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Blends: Coffee blends consist of two or more coffees blended and roasted together. This creates the ability to blend different ratios, roast temperatures, and beans to create endless flavour profiles and combinations. Blends can be either pre-blended or post blended (i.e. after roasting individual beans).
Why Choose a Blend?
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More robust than single origin
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Can combine various roasts and flavour notes to create unique, balanced flavour profiles
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Never get bored! If you love trying new flavours and experimenting, we recommend blends. There is no limit to the flavour profiles you can enjoy when blending coffee.
Our Recommendations
Here are some of our signature coffee blends we recommend most often:
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Day Made Blend No. 1: A delicious medium-roast that makes a great all-around coffee. Hints of milk chocolate and caramel. Bean origins: Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica.
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Kick Start Blend No. 2: If you want a bold start to your day - our Kick Start blend is it! Notes of dark chocolate and brown sugar.Bean origins: Papua New Guinea, Brazil.
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Sun Rise Blend No. 3: Flavour notes include toffee, milk chocolate, and candied citrus. To fully appreciate the one-of-a-kind flavour of Sun Rise, we recommend enjoying it black. Bean origins: Papua New Guinea, Guatemala, Brazil, Ethiopia.
Why Choose a Single Origin?
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Tasting notes vary depending on the altitudes, climate, and soils in the coffee growing region
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Ideal for coffee lovers who enjoy exploring different flavours, aromas, and flavour possibilities
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No two origins will taste the same
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Vastly different flavour profiles depending on the coffee growing region, climate, weather, crop, and brewing method?
Our Recommendations
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Bright Spark Single Origin Range: Light to medium roast. Rotated on a weekly basis to keep your taste buds guessing. Best served black to experience the true flavour profile.
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Late Night Decaf: Need a decaffeinated option? We didn’t forget about you. Dubbed the “shift worker's best friend”, our decaffeinated coffee is ideal for late night workers, pregnant moms, or anyone looking to cut back on caffeine. Delicious black or white. Bean origin: Mexico.
Delight Your Senses with Coffee Beans Perth
The soil, temperatures, weather, and altitude of a coffee growing region directly affect the resulting flavour. Each coffee growing region has beautiful flavours and unique characteristics waiting to be enjoyed.
Coffee Beans Perth is your gateway to testing flavours from all the best coffee growing regions in the world.
Shop our range of coffee beans online from our Australian-owned, family-run company or get in touch with us for personalised recommendations. We love helping fellow coffee enthusiasts discover their perfect cup!
FAQs
Arabica vs. Robusta Beans: What’s the Difference?
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Arabica Beans: Sweet, more delicate, smooth finish, fruity or floral notes
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Robusta Beans: Bolder, stronger, higher caffeine content, full-bodied, ideal for strong, robust espresso blends and generally used in Europe and Asia.
What Is the Difference Between Light, Medium, and Dark Roasts?
The roast level affects how your coffee tastes, and here’s how:
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Light Roast: Often has fruity notes and a bright flavour profile - ideal for drip or pour-over coffee
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Medium Roast: Balanced, versatile, caramelised flavour notes - suitable for black or milk coffee.
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Dark Roast: Bold, slightly smoky, robust, intense, strong, ideal for milk-based drinks.