Mahima
Mar 134 min
(Mahima, Insta: @19mahima)
We all enjoy coffee. We desire coffee like the sun after a sleepless night, grabbing for it before phones, emails, or even sunlight. It's more than simply a morning requirement; it's a warm, caffeinated hug sewn into the fabric of our existence. With each drink, coffee fuels our brains and bodies, ignites discussions, establishes relationships, and elevates our spirits. Coffee is our silent companion on our daily excursions, a warm hug that nourishes our brains, bodies, and souls.
(Image credit: Mahima)
On the one hand, coffee feeds our lives in a variety of ways. It's the social lubricant that ignites discussions, the mood lifter that drives away the blues, and the silent companion on our everyday journeys. But this delectable elixir comes at a cost.
Before even understanding how coffee impacts our life Let’s first see how our everyday addiction reaches to our cups every morning.
They are found in tropical and subtropical locations all over the world, with Brazil, Colombia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Ethiopia being the most prominent coffee-growing countries. Coffee plants grow and yield cherries in around 3-4 years. When cherries are mature, they are hand-picked and processed to remove the pulp and pits. There are two types of processing: wet and dry.
Image credit: (“Coffee production | Description, Cultivation, Process, Hulling, & Facts | Britannica,” 2023)
Wet processing entails fermenting and washing the cherries to remove the pulp, and dry processing entails sun-drying the cherries until the pulp shrivels and falls away. The beans are dried after processing to reduce moisture content to roughly 12%. The beans are then roasted to improve their flavour and perfume.
Coffee plantations are a major source of income for millions of people around the world.
Table source:(“Top 20 Coffee Producing Countries in the World,” 2023,)(“Which country produced the most coffee in 2020?” 2021)
Because coffee is such a popular and vital commodity, its production - which is largely done in underdeveloped nations - may have a significant impact on a country's economy. It can, more precisely, stimulate economic growth. They have, however, been chastised for their environmental impact. Concerns in coffee production include deforestation, water consumption, and chemical pollution(“Coffee Producing Countries 2023,” n.d.).
Deforestation for sun-grown coffee plantations, water use beyond a thirsty camel's dreams, and chemical pollution seeping into the soil like unwanted whispers - these are the harsh truths that sometimes lay behind the frothy surface of our morning cappuccino.
So, what about our first cup? It's a double-edged sword. It is an evident wake-up call, but it also bears the echoes of future environmental sleep. The good news is that we are not powerless. Conscious decisions are important. Supporting shade-grown coffee, purchasing organic beans, and reducing waste are all methods to prepare a more responsible cup.
Water is a valuable resource in coffee growing, and sustainable practices strive to decrease water waste by employing techniques such as drip irrigation and water recycling(Ltd, 2023). Indian coffee is gaining popularity for its emphasis on environmentally friendly procedures. Shade-grown coffee, which is grown under the canopy of trees, is a prevalent practice that promotes biodiversity and environmental protection. Organic agricultural practices are gaining popularity as well, delivering healthier products for consumers while minimising environmental damage.
Brazil, the uncontested king of coffee production, controls 39.5% of the worldwide market. Brazil is a pioneer in sustainable methods, in addition to sheer volume. Programmes such as the "Second Chance" programme promote reforestation and shade-grown coffee, while the "More Water, Less Land" project encourages smart water use(Moda et al., 2022).
Ethiopia, the origin of coffee, has a strong cultural attachment to the bean. Recognising this tradition, the government is aggressively pushing sustainable techniques such as shade-grown coffee and organic farming. Projects like the "Sustainable Coffee Initiative" help smallholder farmers and maintain biodiversity, whereas projects like the "Coffee Ecosystem Restoration Project" focus on reforestation and soil protection(“Ethiopian Farmers Triple Coffee Yields with Sustainable Tree Stumping,” n.d.).
Indonesia: The "Sustainable Coffee Platform of Indonesia" is working across the country to enhance coffee quality, farmer livelihoods, and environmental sustainability(“#Coffee4Future | Rikolto in Indonesia,” n.d.).
Beyond the countries and government what we as individuals can do for this:
Buying certified coffee: Look for certifications such as Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, or USDA Organic to assure ethical and ecologically responsible sourcing.
Choosing a local roaster: Supporting local roasters who purchase directly from farmers will help assure traceability and promote sustainable practices.
Reuse and recycle coffee grounds and packaging materials to reduce waste.
Beyond its rich scent and energising impact, coffee is the lifeline of many mornings. As the world's most popular beverage, its path from bean to cup involves not just growers and baristas, but also the delicate balance between human needs and environmental well-being. This is where sustainability comes into play, with different coffee-producing countries developing diverse strategies to reduce their environmental imprint.
Take a minute the next time you have a cup of coffee to consider the path it travelled to get to your mug. Supporting sustainable coffee growing techniques can assist in guaranteeing that coffee production is beneficial to both people and the environment.
References
Coffee Producing Countries 2023 [WWW Document], n.d. . Wisevoter. URL https://wisevoter.com/country-rankings/coffee-producing-countries/ (accessed 12.31.23).
Coffee production | Description, Cultivation, Process, Hulling, & Facts | Britannica [WWW Document], 2023. URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/coffee-production (accessed 12.31.23).
#Coffee4Future | Rikolto in Indonesia [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://indonesia.rikolto.org/en/focus-areas/coffee4future (accessed 12.31.23).
Ethiopian Farmers Triple Coffee Yields with Sustainable Tree Stumping [WWW Document], n.d. . World Bank. URL https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2021/04/20/ethiopian-farmers-triple-coffee-yields-with-sustainable-tree-stumping (accessed 12.31.23).
Ltd, G., 2023. International Coffee Day: Sip, Savor, and Support Sustainable Coffee [WWW Document]. Goldleaf. URL https://shopgoldleaf.com/blogs/newsfeed/international-coffee-day-sip-savor-and-support-sustainable-coffee (accessed 12.31.23).
Moda, L.R., Spers, E.E., Almeida, L.F. de, Schiavi, S.M. de A., Moda, L.R., Spers, E.E., Almeida, L.F. de, Schiavi, S.M. de A., 2022. Brazilian Coffee Sustainability, Production, and Certification, in: Sustainable Agricultural Value Chain. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.105135
Top 20 Coffee Producing Countries in the World [WWW Document], 2023. . Yahoo Finance. URL https://finance.yahoo.com/news/top-20-coffee-producing-countries-134620713.html (accessed 12.31.23).
Which country produced the most coffee in 2020? [WWW Document], 2021. . World Econ. Forum. URL https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/10/which-country-produced-the-most-coffee-in-2020/ (accessed 12.31.23).