{"id":108035,"date":"2022-11-16T15:08:35","date_gmt":"2022-11-16T14:08:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mareterracoffee.com\/la-planta-del-cafe\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T12:02:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T11:02:22","slug":"from-coffee-tree-to-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mareterracoffee.com\/en\/blog\/from-coffee-tree-to-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"From coffee tree to cup: How coffee is grown and what\u2019s inside a coffee cherry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Growing coffee isn\u2019t just planting and harvesting\u2014it\u2019s a long, delicate process that depends heavily on climate. To understand why one coffee can taste so different from another (in aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel), it helps to start at the source: where the coffee tree grows, how long it takes to produce, and what layers make up a coffee cherry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where coffee is grown: the \u201cCoffee Belt\u201d<\/a> and altitude<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Coffee grows mainly between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn\u2014an area known as the Coffee Belt<\/strong>. These latitudes offer relatively stable temperatures and rainfall patterns that support fruit development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Altitude<\/strong> is another key factor. Many farms sit\u2014very generally\u2014between 200 and 2,000 meters<\/strong>, depending on the country, variety, and microclimate. At higher altitudes, nights are often cooler and cherries ripen more slowly, which can translate into more complex flavor profiles<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coffee tree timeline: patience before productivity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A seed takes time to become a plant capable of producing fruit. In general, it takes 3 to 5 years<\/strong> for a coffee tree to enter a truly productive phase (though it may produce a few cherries earlier).<\/p>\n\n\n\n