Global coffee consumption: the highs and the rise

Coffee beans (Coffea canephora and Coffea arabica) are grown in more than 70 countries, primarily located around the tropical regions of the equator – in Africa, South America, and Asia. The top 20 countries with the highest coffee production are (in order): Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, Ethiopia, India, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Honduras, Uganda, Ivory Coast, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Ecuador, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Dominican Republic. Kenya is in 21^st position.

But the high production countries are not the countries with the highest consumption of coffee per capita.

The Netherlands tops the list of per-capita consumption of 2.4 cups a day. It is the only country to exceed the 2 cup-a-day barrier, according to The Atlantic (January 15, 2014), which provided the results for 80 countries.

The top 20 countries that consume the most coffee are: Netherlands (2.4 cups per day per capita average), Finland (1.8), Sweden (1.4), Denmark (1.2), Germany (1.2), Slovakia (1.2), Serbia (1.2), Czech Republic (1.2), Poland (1.2), Norway (1.1), Slovenia (1.1), Canada (1.0), Belgium (1.0), Switzerland (1.0), New Zealand (0.9), USA (0.9), Austria (0.8), Costa Rica (0.8), Greece (0.8), and Algeria (0.8).

The bottom 20 countries – those that consume the least amount of coffee – include: South Africa (0.1), United Arab Emirates (0.1), Malaysia (0.1), Kazakhstan (0.1), Bolivia (0.1), Ecuador (0.1), Hong Kong (0.1), Cameroon (0.1), Peru (0.1), Indonesia (0.04), Vietnam (0.03), Taiwa (0.03), Egypt (0.02), India (0.02), Uzbekistan (0.009), Pakistan (0.008), Kenya (0.007), Azerbaijan (0.006), China (0.003), and Nigeria (0.002).

Georgia is currently 27^th with 0.6 cups on average per day per capita, which is almost the same as Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan combined – and rising. Georgia has significantly increased its coffee consumption – by 10% from 2012 to 2013 (finchannel.com April 7, 2014). It imports coffee beans from several countries, but most come from Indonesia. Georgia’s top import countries for coffee are: Indonesia, Armenia, Vietnam, Russia, and Italy. However, Georgia imports a lot of instant coffee too – from Singapore, Russia, Ukraine, Brazil, Taiwan, and India.

Georgia’s significant upturn in coffee consumption is attributable to increased consumer disposable incomes, as well as the growth of supermarkets in the country. The trend for instant coffee is growing over freshly ground coffee, mainly due to price and convenience. However the consumption of freshly ground coffee is not expected to decline, but rather, it is likely to remain stable, reported Euromonitor International. The increase in sales is expected to come from speciality and Italian coffee varieties. But if the rate of increase in coffee continues, Georgia may become one of the world’s biggest consumers of coffee.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/01/here-are-the-countries-that-drink-the-most-coffee-the-us-isnt-in-the-top-10/283100/

The acacia thorn trees of Kenya

There are nearly 800 species of acacia trees in the world, and most don’t have thorns. The famous "whistling thorn tree" and the Umbrella Thorn tree of Kenya are species of acacia that do have thorns, or spines. Giraffes and other herbivores normally eat thorny acacia foliage, but leave the whistling thorn alone. Usually spines are no deterrent to giraffes. Their long tongues are adapted to strip the leaves from the branches despite the thorns. The thorny acacia like dry and hot conditions. The thorns typically occur in pairs and are 5-8 centimetres (2-3 inches) long. Spines can be straight or curved depending on the species. MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Suda...

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...

Independence statue, Phnom Penh

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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