Barista Hustle Terroir

Coffee from Seed to Harvest

We begin our journey in Africa, where we will explore the physiology of the coffee plant and the importance of its environment. We will trace the origins of Arabica to the wild trees of the Ethiopian mountains and mist forests.

Great coffee is the result of the genotype of the plant and the terroir that surrounds it. Environmental factors such as climate and soil along with cultivation techniques create the specific environment or terroir of the farm. Some factors, such as the altitude at which the coffee plant grows, are unchangeable during its lifetime. Other factors, such as the fertility of the soil, can be changed, but often only at enormous cost.

The book is in English

The authors conducted a series of interviews with scientists, agronomists and coffee buyers to better understand farm management and how different aspects of terroir can affect the shape, size and other characteristics of the plant. This book explores how terroir determines coffee character and harvest success. It provides an overview of the factors that can be influenced and the steps that can be taken to sustainably grow delicious coffee.