The Philippines and its history of coffee cultivation
The Philippines has a rich history of coffee, starting as early as 1740, when Spanish monks brought coffee trees to the city of Lipa, Batangas, which soon became the country’s coffee capital. By 1880, the Philippines was the world’s fourth biggest exporter of coffee beans and for a time the primary source of coffee beans globally, when the coffee rust hit Brazil, Africa, and Java. This golden era of the Philippine coffee industry lasted until 1889, until rust and insect infestation wiped out the majority of coffee trees and with it, national coffee production plummeted. With the growth of instant coffee and the introduction of more disease resistant varieties, many farmers went back to growing coffee from the 1960s.
Comprising over 7,000 islands with a varied topography and range of climates, the Philippines is one of a few countries able to grow the four varieties of commercially-viable beans: Arabica, Liberica (Barako), Excelsa and Robusta. The majority of coffee grown in the Philippines is Robusta (69%), followed by Arabica (25%). Specialty coffee production is small but with huge potential – there is a big focus on improving quality amongst Filipino coffee professionals, along with Government and private sector initiatives to exponentially increase production.
Partners
Kalsada is a social enterprise that champions Philippine specialty coffee. It provides support to Filipino coffee producers and their dedicated efforts to bring quality coffee to market. Working in partnership with local communities, Kalsada invests in machinery and equipment to elevate coffee quality and pays farmers over $1 per pound more than Fair Trade.