Bean There, Done That: Philippine Coffee and Where it is Today
Did you know that the Philippines cultivates the world’s most viable coffee beans?
Philippine coffee has gone a long way from Franciscan monks planting coffee trees in Batangas in 1740. At one point, the nation was even the fourth biggest importer of coffee beans in the world–and despite the variety of beans available locally, the Philippines has not regained its status as a major player in the coffee market.
What exactly are the four beans available in the Philippines, and where is the local coffee industry headed today?
Photo from Unsplash
Philippine Coffee 101
The Philippines is part of the “coffee belt,” or the regions that bear the ideal conditions for growing and cultivating coffee trees. The quality and flavors of coffee beans are directly impacted by a range of factors, such as soil chemistry, weather–even the precise altitude at which the coffee plants grow.
Because of this combination of factors, the two main species of coffee plants, Arabica and Robusta, are able to grow and thrive in the Philippines. Within these coffee tree species, there are several varieties that are cultivated for our consumption (and wake us all up whenever we need to). The four most common coffee beans are:
Arabica - the most widely consumed type of coffee bean. They have a mild and nuanced flavor profile, with notes of fruit and chocolate.
Robusta - As its name suggests, Robusta beans are more robust and full-bodied than Arabica beans. They are also more bitter and have higher caffeine content. Robusta beans are often used in espresso blends, providing a strong, dark flavor.
Liberica - This type of coffee bean is less common than Arabica and Robusta, and is primarily grown in the Philippines and West Africa. Liberica beans have a distinctive flavor profile, with notes of floral and fruity flavors, but are generally considered to be of lower quality than Arabica or Robusta beans. Liberica is also locally known as kapeng barako (literally “stud coffee”), and is mostly cultivated in Batangas and Cavite.
Excelsa - This type of coffee bean is often classified as a subset of Liberica, but with a different flavor profile. Excelsa beans have a tart and fruity flavor, with notes of dark fruit and a hint of smokiness. They are primarily grown in Southeast Asia and are less commonly used in commercial coffee blends.
Photo from Guide to the Philippines
Despite the variety of coffee beans available in the Philippines, local coffees are not reaching a wider and more global audience. The biggest factor to come into play is coffee rust, a type of fungus that destroys the coffee plant. This disease decimated most of our crops back in the 1800s–when the Philippines was the fourth major exporter of coffee to the world–and it’s still directly affecting our coffee production today.
Other factors also include natural disasters, other environmental issues, and unstable economic conditions. What’s more, local coffee farmers have also shifted to other crops, and the agricultural land used to rear the plants has been converted to real estate.
Filipinos were already importing 213.3 metric tons of coffee by 2020, yet locally, the country was only able to produce 60,600. To put the Philippines back on the coffee production map, the Philippine government and private organizations have initiated programs for coffee farmers, increasing their production and furthering their livelihood.
Photo from Unsplash
How can we support Philippine coffee farmers?
Here are some ways that you can take a more active role in supporting Filipino farmers–especially if you love drinking coffee.
Buy Philippine coffee. Look for Philippine-grown coffee at your local coffee shop or online, and make a conscious effort to buy it. By choosing Philippine coffee, you are directly supporting the farmers who grow it.
Visit Philippine coffee shops. Visit local coffee shops that feature Philippine coffee, and recommend them to your friends and family. This can help to increase demand for Philippine coffee, which can benefit farmers.
Talk to others about Filipino coffee. Spread the word about the quality of Philippine coffee and the hard work of its farmers. Educate your community about the importance of supporting sustainable and ethical coffee production.
Support organizations that promote Philippine coffee. There are several organizations in the Philippines that are dedicated to promoting and supporting local coffee farmers. Consider donating to or volunteering with one of these organizations to help make a positive impact on the industry.
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