Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia is a relatively small player in the coffee-growing industry, with only about 50 growers in the country. However, it has the potential to be a major player due to its ample easily accessible land, moderate climate, and rich soil. Australia also has the advantage of being free of pests and diseases that affect coffee plants, allowing for the production of clean, pesticide-free coffee beans. Coffee is grown in two main areas in Australia: northern New South Wales and Queensland, particularly in the Atherton Tablelands region. The country has been growing coffee for about a century, but it is only recently that the industry has seen a revival thanks to the use of mechanical harvesters and higher production machinery. Australia's coffee beans are known for their high quality, scoring similarly to international varieties from Brazil, Colombia, and Ethiopia. The unique terroir of Australian-grown coffee gives it a sweeter, nuttier, and fruitier flavour profile compared to other coffee-producing regions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of coffee growers in Australia | 50 |
| Australia's annual coffee consumption | 1.96 million 60-kilogram bags |
| Average coffee consumption per Australian | 2kg of beans |
| Percentage of homegrown beans in Australian coffee consumption | Less than 1% |
| Australia's primary coffee-growing regions | Northern NSW, southeast Queensland, tropical north Queensland |
| Varietals grown in Australia | Typica, Catuai, Mundo Novo, Kenyan K7 and SL6 |
| Australia's coffee disease status | Free of Coffee Berry Borer Disease and Coffee Leaf Rust |
| Pest status | Free of pests |
| Pesticide use | Minimal |
| Flavour profile | Sweeter, nuttier and fruitier |
| Acidity | Low-medium intensity |
| Mouthfeel | Smooth texture |
| Aftertaste | Medium-long |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's coffee-growing history
In the 1980s, there was a revival in the industry with the introduction of mechanical harvesters and higher production machinery. During this time, a Kenyan varietal called the K7 was chosen for commercial distribution as it suited the Australian climate and produced quality beans. Australia's unique climate and soil conditions make it an ideal place to grow coffee, particularly in northern New South Wales and Queensland, which have a subtropical climate.
Despite the challenges, Australia's coffee industry has persisted, and today there are about 50 growers in the country. These growers are spread across northern New South Wales, southeast Queensland, and tropical north Queensland, with some farms located in Nimbin, Lismore, and Cape York. The Jack Murat Coffee Farm in the Atherton Tablelands is also a significant coffee-growing region.
Australia's coffee industry is relatively small compared to global players like Brazil and Vietnam. However, Australian-grown coffee has scored highly in taste tests, with unique terroir characteristics that make it sweeter, nuttier, and fruitier than other international varieties. The country's coffee trees are also free of pests and diseases, allowing most coffee to be grown without the use of pesticides.
There are ongoing efforts to boost Australia's coffee industry and make it more economically viable. Researchers have been trialling new semi-dwarf coffee tree varieties that require less maintenance and can be harvested more frequently. These new varieties could attract more farmers and increase the domestic production of coffee in Australia.
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Coffee-growing regions in Australia
Coffee is grown in two main areas in Australia: northern NSW and QLD. These regions have a subtropical climate, ample accessible land, moderate temperatures, high rainfall, rich soil, and zero-frost microclimates, making them ideal for coffee cultivation.
Within these regions are important coffee-growing areas such as the Atherton Tablelands, home to the Jack Murat Coffee Farm and about 30 other farmers. Further south in northern NSW, there are an additional 170 coffee farms, all growing coffee trees below 900 MASL.
Other specific coffee-growing regions in Australia include Nimbin and Lismore in New South Wales, and Cape York in far north Queensland, where the large Skybury plantation is located. There are about 50 growers scattered throughout the coast's tropical and subtropical areas in total.
Australia has the ideal climate for growing high-quality Arabica coffee, which is the type grown almost exclusively in the country. Some of the most commonly grown Arabica varietals in Australia include Typica, Catuai, and Mundo Novo (a hybrid of bourbon and Typica). Additionally, some Kenyan varieties are more suited to the drier Australian climate, such as K7 and SL6.
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Coffee tree varieties
Coffee trees require a warm climate and humus-rich fertile soil to thrive. They can grow up to 3 metres in cultivation and prefer a little shade. Frost is a problem, and newly planted trees can take up to four years to flower and fruit.
In Australia, coffee is grown in two main areas: northern NSW and QLD, due to their subtropical climate. There are about 50 growers in the country, and Australia produces about 600 tons of green beans from about 850,000 trees every year.
The most common variety of coffee grown in Australia is Arabica, with Typica, Catuai, and Mundo Novo among the most common Arabica varietals. Some Kenyan varieties, such as K7 and SL6, are also grown in Australia as they are more suited to the drier Australian climate.
Recently, there has been a focus on trialling new varieties of coffee trees in Australia, including semi-dwarf trees that stay at a size that can be machine harvested. The new semi-dwarf trees are being trialled on farms across Australia, with the hope that they will attract more farmers to the industry.
In addition to the large, fully mechanized plantations in Australia, there are also smaller farms that use traditional hand cultivation methods.
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The taste of Australian coffee
Australia has been labelled the coffee capital of the world, and its coffee culture is unique. Almost half of Australians enjoy drinking coffee, with over 1 million drinking iced coffee every week. The coffee history in Australia began during World War II when Italian immigrants brought coffee machines to the country. The coffee industry was transformed by Gaggia's espresso machine, which produced a stronger, smoother coffee with crema on top. As a result, Australians drank espresso from the beginning, and to this day, most Australians prefer espresso-style coffee.
The country's coffee culture values quality, with a focus on specialty coffee and third-wave coffee. Australians appreciate the entire coffee brewing process, from seed to cup, and are willing to pay more for a better product. This emphasis on quality is also reflected in their rejection of Starbucks, which failed to gain traction in Australia due to its inability to meet local taste preferences.
Australian coffee beans are primarily Arabica, with popular varietals including Typica, Catuai, and Mundo Novo. The country's climate and soil conditions are ideal for growing coffee, particularly in northern New South Wales and Queensland. The coffee produced in these regions is known for its high quality and freedom from pests and diseases, resulting in clean, pesticide-free beans.
When it comes to the taste of Australian coffee, the emphasis is on freshness and proper roasting techniques. The country's baristas are highly skilled, with Melbourne being known for its latte art. Australian coffee often has a soft, low-grown "Island Coffee" flavour profile, and instant coffee in the country tends to be mild and easy to drink, with some brands offering a hint of sweetness. Iced coffee is also a popular choice, with various options available, including unsweetened iced latte imitators, sweetened drinks, and caffeinated protein shakes.
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$18.99
The future of Australian coffee
Australia is a relatively small player in the global coffee industry, with less than 1% of the beans used in the 6 billion cups of coffee consumed in the country annually being homegrown. However, the future of Australian-grown coffee looks promising, with ongoing efforts to boost the domestic industry.
One of the main challenges facing the Australian coffee industry is the high cost of production, which has historically caused the industry to falter. The introduction of mechanical harvesters and higher production machinery in the 1980s revived coffee growing in Australia, but the chosen coffee tree variety, the K7, has been found to grow too tall for efficient harvesting, leading to increased pruning and trimming costs.
To address this issue, researchers have been trialling dozens of different coffee trees, narrowing it down to three semi-dwarf varieties from Central and South America. These semi-dwarf trees stop growing at a height of around 2.5 to 3 meters, making them more suitable for mechanical harvesting and reducing the need for costly pruning and trimming. It is hoped that these new varieties will attract more farmers to the industry and help increase the production of Australian-grown coffee.
Another advantage of Australian-grown coffee is its quality and unique flavour profile. Australian-grown coffees have scored highly in taste tests, comparable to international varieties from renowned coffee-producing regions such as Brazil, Colombia, and Ethiopia. Australian coffee is described as having a sweeter, nuttier, and fruitier flavour profile, with a smooth textural mouthfeel and a medium-long aftertaste. The lack of pests and diseases in Australian coffee farms also means that the coffee is grown without the use of pesticides, resulting in a cleaner product.
Additionally, locally produced coffee has a lower carbon footprint and transport time compared to imported coffee, resulting in a fresher and greener product. With ongoing research and development, Australia is poised to make a larger play in the multi-billion-dollar coffee industry, increasing the availability of homegrown coffee in the country and potentially expanding its reach globally.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Australia grows coffee in tropical areas like the Atherton Tablelands in northern NSW and QLD. Australia's first coffee plantation was in temperate Sydney.
Australia grows high-quality Arabica coffee, specifically the Typica, Catuai, and Mundo Novo varietals, along with some Kenyan varieties like K7 and SL6 that are better suited to the drier Australian climate.
Australian-grown coffee is sweeter, nuttier, and fruitier than other coffees. This is likely due to the cooler temperatures and longer ripening periods in Australian coffee-producing areas.
