The Best Coffee-Growing Countries in the World (According to Coffee Geeks Like Us)

At Crickle Creek Coffee, we know where to find the best cup in town (spoiler: it’s at your place when you brew our beans!). But have you ever wondered where the world’s best coffee actually grows? 

Growing Coffee: It’s More Than Just Planting Seeds

Great coffee starts long before it hits your grinder. The right balance of sunshine, shade, rain, and elevation is key. Too much heat? Stressed beans. Not enough rain? No flavour. And farming is getting harder—unpredictable weather, rising temperatures, and extreme storms are impacting yields and cup quality all over the world. On top of that, rising costs for labour, supplies, and transportation have caused wholesale prices to jump over 80% just in the past year. Crazy, right? We know. 😞

So… Who’s Doing It Best?

To find the top coffee-growing countries, the Coffee Quality Institute asked certified graders (basically, the Alejandros of the coffee world) to rate 1,229 coffees from 52 countries. They rated them on aroma, flavour, acidity, and balance. After all the coffees were graded, the average results were clear: certain countries consistently produced top-tier beans. At Crickle Creek, we’re proud to source beans from eight of these countries—including our very own family farm in El Salvador. (Yes, we’re a little biased, but we think it’s pretty special!)

Ready? Here are the top 10 coffee-growing countries:

10. Tanzania – Average country cup rating: 82.37
High-elevation farms produce beans with smooth, mild flavours.

9. Brazil – Average country cup rating: 82.41
As the world’s largest coffee producer, Brazil is known for beans with a natural sweetness, heavy body, and chocolatey notes. These crowd-pleasers often form the backbone of espresso blends. At Crickle Creek, our Brazil is a Dark Roast, bringing out its rich, bold flavour.

8. Thailand – Average cup rating: 82.57
A rising star in specialty coffee. Thai farmers use creative processing methods (like fermenting with banana leaves) to bring unique flavors to their Arabica and Robusta beans.

7. Indonesia – Average country cup rating: 82.57
Famous for low-acidity, full-bodied coffees with earthy, spiced notes like clove and nutmeg. Most coffee is grown by smallholders using eco-friendly practices.

6. Costa Rica – Average country cup rating: 82.79
Known for bright, clean cups with balanced acidity. Costa Rican beans often have citrus and honey flavours, and the country’s strict Arabica-only laws ensure quality.

5. El Salvador – Average country cup rating: 83.05
Grown on volcanic slopes, Salvadoran coffees have a gentle acidity and honey-like sweetness. High elevation farms yield complex, balanced beans.

4. Colombia – Average country cup rating: 83.11
Famous for smooth, mild coffee with fruity notes. Colombia’s mountainous terrain and manual harvesting produce consistently high-quality Arabica beans.

3. Uganda – Average country cup rating: 84.05
A major Robusta producer with a growing specialty Arabica scene. Ugandan coffees are known for their rich, earthy flavors and natural disease resistance.

2. Kenya – Average country cup rating: 84.31
Distinctive coffees with bright acidity, often tasting of black currant and berries. SL-28 and SL-34 varietals contribute to Kenya’s reputation for high-quality beans.

1. Ethiopia – Average country cup rating: 84.88
Ethiopia is the birthplace of Arabica coffee. Ethiopian beans are celebrated for their complex, fruity, and floral flavors, often enhanced by traditional natural processing methods. At Crickle Creek, our Ethiopia is typically a Dark Roast, unless we feature a special farm for our Coffee of the Month, which we roast as a Medium to highlight its unique characteristics.