global warming, arabica beans, and YOU!

Over the course of history, at different times, we have been in danger (or thought to be in danger) of running out of certain resources and commodities like coal, wheat, oil, and gas. Do we need to add specialty coffee to the list? We sure hope not! The World Coffee Research, an organization set up through Texas A&M University has done extensive research on the issues of coffee sustainability. Not to say all coffee is almost endangered but farmers sure are experiencing a decrease in harvest seasons and the climate isn't helping, and in fact has a lot to do with this specific situation too.

Arabica coffee bean plant is the best of the best when it comes to coffee, but along with being the best you also have a very sensitive, hard to grow plant. Arabica beans have specific growing conditions; it requires warm days and cool nights, heavy rain alternating with dry spells, and has to be grown 5,400 feet or more in elevation. Also it is processed all by hand; picked, washed, separated- is all by hand. All of these requirements play a role in the quality, taste, aroma, color ... everything that gives each bean its characteristics and flavor, but also it leaves high-quality Arabica production vulnerable to climate variation. The quality of coffee depends on subtle flavor interaction that can be disrupted by change in the growing conditions, even the outcome of the crop itself. When the temperature rises the metabolism of the plant also increases, the little coffee cherry fills up faster too, which reduces that ability for the plant to assemble all the storage compounds to the best to yeild the best flavor characteristics. Farmers are experiencing the change whether they are in Africa or South America- Arabica beans are becoming harder to grow because of climate. When the climate gets warmer farmers are forced to retreat to the mountaintops- until they run out of room and disruption in the rain also causes the plant to grow fungus and coffee rust ... the land where we grow Arabica beans is running out and whether or not the contriversial topic of global warming contributes to this or not, the production of Arabica beans is growing harder each year for farmers. Researchers are trying to develop ideas of new heat tolerant and climate resistant coffee varieties to aid the current issue. Arabica beans are the only beans we roast at Coffee Times and knowing what I now know about Arabica beans makes me a little more concious of my environment and how I, as a human, can help decrease some energy I use and be aware of my wastefulness.