Is coffee picked at the same time in every country?

by Rosemary T.
(Winnipeg)

QUESTION:

I know that coffee is grown in tropical countries, but do all coffees have the same growing season? Is every crop picked at about the same time? If not, are some coffee beans fresher than others, depending on the time of year?


ANSWER:

Really good question! You’re correct in saying that coffee is grown in the tropics. All coffee is grown somewhere between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

But although this might suggest that all coffee also matures at the same time and is harvested at the same time, that isn’t the case.

And yes, knowing when a region’s coffees are harvested can help you choose coffees that are fresh. (Just be sure to buy them from a reputable store or roaster.)

For those of us in the Northern hemisphere, here are the approximate arrival times for coffees from various different regions.

Coffees from Central America and East Africa arrive here in the summer. Winter brings us coffee from South America and coffees from the Pacific region are available here by early spring.

There are no absolute dates, but if you combine your knowledge of these time periods with a conversation with an honest coffee roaster, you’ll be on your way to buying the freshest beans possible.