This is worth savoring: The world’s coffee supply is facing an invisible crisis. Climate change isn’t just warming the planet—it’s baking coffee-growing regions, pushing them past thresholds where crops can’t survive. A new analysis by Climate Central reveals that extreme heat has already added weeks of “coffee-harming” conditions to major producing areas, threatening both harvests and the livelihoods of millions. The data is stark: 25 countries, home to 97% of global coffee, now experience more days above 30°C (86°F)—a level that stifles arabica growth and undermines robusta quality.
The numbers don’t lie. Brazil, the largest producer, now faces 70 extra hot days annually, with Minas Gerais alone seeing 67. Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, and Ethiopia follow, each adding 59 to 48 days of stress. Even smaller regions like El Salvador and Nicaragua are seeing spikes of 99 and 77 days, respectively. These aren’t just weather anomalies—they’re trends. The 30°C threshold, backed by peer-reviewed research, marks the point where heat begins to outpace coffee’s resilience. Yields drop, beans degrade, and pests thrive.
The stakes are personal. Dejene Dadi of Ethiopia’s coffee cooperatives warns that farmers are already seeing the damage. “Governments must act,” he says, “and invest in smallholders to scale solutions.” Yet adaptation isn’t just about planting shade trees or improving soil health—it’s about rethinking how coffee is grown in a warming world. Akshay Dashrath of South India Coffee Company notes that longer hot periods and faster soil drying are squeezing the narrow balance coffee depends on. “Adapting is no longer a choice,” he says.
The coffee industry’s survival hinges on two truths: first, climate policies must prioritize vulnerable regions; second, sustainable farming isn’t optional—it’s a necessity. As heatwaves intensify, the question isn’t whether coffee can adapt. It’s whether we’ll let it.
What role should governments play in protecting coffee’s future.
What role should governments play in protecting coffee’s future?
Questions & Answers
How is climate change affecting coffee crops?
Climate change is adding weeks of extreme heat to coffee-growing regions, harming plant health and reducing yields.
What regions are most impacted by coffee-harming heat?
Major coffee-growing regions in Latin America, Africa, and Asia are experiencing increased heat stress, threatening production.
Information sourced from industry reports and news outlets.
