Australia is becoming known for more than just its stunning landscapes and outdoor lifestyle. In recent years, Australian coffee growers have been producing some of the world’s finest coffee beans. The coffee industry is taking advantage of the unique climate and land conditions found in the country, producing coffees that are rich, full-bodied, and bursting with flavour. In fact, some of the most sought-after coffees in the world come from Australia.
From the lush tropical rainforest regions of Northern Australia to the cool and mountainous regions of Victoria, Australia has something to offer for every coffee lover. Whether you’re looking for a robust espresso blend or something a bit more mellow and fruity, the coffee growers have you covered.
So, if you’re looking for something to perk up your morning, why not give Australian coffee a try? You won’t regret it!
Evolution of Australian Coffee Culture
The first fleet of ships carrying coffee to Australia arrived in 1773, but the coffee plants the British acquired in Rio de Janeiro did not thrive on Australian soil. In 1832, near Kangaroo Point, Australia produced its first commercially viable crop of coffee.
Brisbane is the birthplace of Australia’s celebrated coffee culture. Over time, Australia’s increasingly sophisticated great coffee culture has been influenced by the country’s cosmopolitan population and its high expectations for quality. Australia’s coffee culture has been shaped by the traditions of the Greeks, the Italians, and the Brazilians.
READ: THE INFAMOUS INDONESIAN COFFEE
The Regions And Climates That Are Best For Growing Coffee
There are numerous regions in Australia that are ideal for coffee plantations. These include the Northern Territory, the Top End of Australia, the Gulf of Carpentaria, far North Queensland, NSW, the Southern Highlands of Victoria, and the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.
The Northern Territory and Queensland experience warmer temperatures year-round and have access to plenty of rainfall, making them ideal for growing a wide range of crops, including coffee.
When it comes to growing coffee, most regions in Australia have a subtropical climate with warm, humid summers and mild, wet winters. The Southern Highlands of Victoria and the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria are the only areas that have a temperate climate, with warm summers and cool winters.
Australian Coffee Industry
Australian coffee production is booming! Our coffee industry is now worth over $1 billion, making it one of the country’s most profitable industries. And the best part is that there are now so many incredible coffee producers across the country.
From large plantations in the north to small artisan roasters in the south, there’s something for everyone. The high-quality beans produced in Australia have helped make us a top coffee producer in the world.
We’ve also seen a surge of Australian coffee-based businesses, from cafes to roasters to coffee distributors. And with the rise of speciality coffee, we’re seeing more and more Australians discovering the incredible variety of coffee flavours available. From smooth and mellow to rich and complex, there’s a flavour to suit any coffee lover.
Australian Grown Coffee
The Australian coffee business is one of the most dynamic and vibrant in the world. From passionate baristas to innovative roasters, Australia has become a leader in the global specialty coffee scene.
Many of the coffee farms in Australia are located in rural areas, allowing the growers to be close to the land and their crops. They use natural methods to grow Australian coffee, such as organic fertilizers, crop rotation, and shade-grown techniques.
This ensures that the coffee is of the highest quality and that it has a unique, robust flavor. Australian coffee producers put their hearts and souls into growing and harvesting beans, and it shows in the superior flavour of their brew.
Coffee Growing – Best Australian Coffee beans
Australia is renowned for its excellent coffee growers, producing some of the best beans in the world. Coffee growing in Australia has been a long-standing tradition, with its origins dating back to the early 1800s.
It is believed that the first coffee trees were brought to Australia by the British, who used them as ornamental plants. Over the years, coffee growers in Australia have perfected their techniques and processing, producing some of the highest quality beans in the world.
Whether you’re looking for a unique espresso blend, sweet and tangy finish or a single-origin bean, Australian coffee growers have something for everyone. But what exactly goes into the process? Let’s take a closer look!
- Coffee Trees or Plantation:
In a typical coffee plantation, coffee farmers keep the rows of trees at least 4 metres apart, and even within a row, they don’t let them get closer than 90 centimetres to each other. So, the crop had to be picked by mechanical coffee harvester.
Sustainable farming methods are prioritised by the coffee growers on its rich, red volcanic soils whenever possible.
- Flowering:
There is a brief blooming period from October through December, following the spring rains. The flowers have a strong fragrance but barely persist for two to three days.
When the plantation is in full bloom, it gives the appearance of being dusted with snow. After blooming, the cherry-like fruit stays tiny for another four to eight weeks.
- Cherry growth:
Approximately 4-8 weeks after flowering, the green cherries grow rapidly, eventually clustering along the branches like grapes and ripening to red in about another six months.
The subtropical location makes pesticides and fungicides unnecessary. Therefore Australian coffee is grown without any potentially harmful chemicals or fumigants.
- Ripening:
Cherries are ready to be picked when their colours shift from green to orange to crimson to a deep reddish purple, typically taking three to four months, beginning in June.
As a result of our region’s low altitude and the moderating influence of its proximity to the coast, the coffee cherries ripen over a longer time.
- Harvesting:
Mechanical harvesting is used to gather cherries from larger plantations. The frame of the self-propelled harvester straddles the row, making it possible for it to move down the row autonomously. Two vertical shaker shafts with fibre-glass fingers protruding along their length are fastened to the frame.
As the shafts turn, the harvester’s fingers shake the branches, causing the ripe cherries to fall onto a conveyor belt and then into a bin. The harvester can be adjusted to pick up the reddest cherries and the least green ones.
Hand-picking is still practised in some cherry orchards. This method is extremely precise and guarantees that only fully ripe cherries will be collected.
- Processing:
Ripe cherries are processed quickly after harvest to remove the pulp containing fermentable carbohydrates(sugars). The mature cherry can be processed in several various ways.
The most common one in this area is the first to identify ripe cherries from unripe or overripe ones. The coffee beans are then released from the ruptured cherry, and the pulping equipment separates the pulp from the beans.
The parchment bean is a type of bean. Either the beans are fermented for 24 hours and then washed, or the pulping machine is used to remove the sticky mucilage covering the beans.
After being washed and sorted, the parchment beans are sun-dried or mechanically dehydrated to a moisture content of 12%. Coffee saved in dry parchment paper will maintain its quality for years if kept in the right circumstances.
- Hulling:
Before roasting, the parchment goes through a hulling machine that removes the outer parchment and silverskin. This leaves a green bean. Green bean is the international name for coffee.
- Roasting:
The chemical and physical properties of green coffee beans change when they are roasted to make roasted coffee products. The way coffee tastes are due to the roasting process, which causes the green beans to grow and change in colour, taste, smell, and density.
Why are the Australian grown Arabica beans so popular?
The Arabica coffee has a sweeter, milder taste than their Robusta counterparts and produces a wonderfully smooth cup of coffee.
Arabica beans are grown in Victoria, New South Wales, and far north Queensland. The beans are carefully selected and blended to create a unique, full-flavored coffee that is truly Australian.
You can experience a different flavor of Arabica bean coffee in each state. From the smooth, sweet flavors of Victoria to the full-bodied, nutty flavors of NSW, the Arabica beans are the perfect way to experience the best that the Australian coffee business has to offer.
Coffee Plantation- Best Australian Grown Beans
Australian grown coffee plantations are some of the most incredible places to visit in the world. Let us look at some of these plantations:
Kahawa Estate Plantation
If you love specialty coffee, then you’ll love Kahawa Estate Coffee in Australia. This estate is situated on the beautiful Northern Rivers of New South Wales, and it produces some of the finest coffee(specialty coffee) in the world.
It’s all thanks to their passionate team of coffee growers and roasters, who use sustainable farming practices to ensure the highest quality beans. Just one sip of their coffee and you can taste the difference – it has a unique flavor that’s like no other.
Australian Subtropical Plantation
The Australian Subtropical Coffee farm business is a thriving and exciting industry. Coffee is grown between Noosa and Coffs Harbour in the sub-tropics of Australia, resulting in a unique cup of coffee that is unlike any other in the world.
This region produces some of the best coffees available and has been the focus of many coffee connoisseurs and experts. The climate in this region provides the ideal conditions for coffee growing, with hot days and cool nights, and a balanced amount of rainfall.
This climate provides a unique taste to the beans, and the conditions are perfect for producing the highest quality beans.
Northern New South Wales Plantation
Australia is home to some of the best coffee plantations in the world. From the high-altitude farms of the Great Dividing Range to the rolling hills of the Northern Tablelands, the unique climate and soils of this region offer ideal conditions to grow coffee.
The farmers here use sustainable practices to ensure the quality of the beans and to protect the environment. They have also developed techniques such as shade-grown coffee, organic fertilizers, and natural pest control to ensure a high-quality and organically-grown product.
The coffee beans produced in Northern New South Wales are of the highest quality and have a distinctive flavor and aroma.
The Byron Bay hinterland Plantation
The Byron Bay hinterland estate (Northern NSW) is an exciting and unique experience that no coffee lover should miss. Nestled in the lush rainforest of the Byron Shire, the estate is home to a variety of coffee beans that have been carefully cultivated and nurtured to create the perfect cup.
Visitors can learn all about the coffee-making process, from harvesting to roasting, and even enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee. The estate also offers a range of other activities, such as guided tours and complex flavours tastings, so you can get the most out of your visit.