The story behind Starbucks coffee beans (Where do Starbucks beans come from + all you need to know)

Starbucks gets its coffee beans from Latin America, Asia and Africa. These are the three main regions where the coffee house sources its coffee beans. I love Starbucks coffee and appreciate the wide range of flavours and tastes the company offers us. After years of consuming Starbucks, I recently began to wonder where Starbucks gets their coffee beans from. After diligent and extensive research and talking to numerous Starbucks managers, I learned about the source of the Starbucks coffee beans that we all love and enjoy. To find out more about where Starbucks gets its coffee beans, continue reading.

Where does Starbucks get their coffee beans?

Starbucks gets their coffee beans from Africa, Latin America and Asia/Pacific in their natural state and processes and roasts them in the United States and China. These three regions are also referred to as the “Coffee Belt”. The term “Coffee Belt” refers to the coffee-growing regions between the Capricorn and the Tropics of Cancer. Out of the 70 countries that produce coffee worldwide, Starbucks gets theirs from 30 countries in the three regions. The growing methods and the topography of these regions are responsible for the different coffee flavours and tastes we all appreciate.

Where does Starbucks source their coffee beans from?

Starbucks sources its coffee beans from 30 countries in the “Coffee Belt” region; Latin America, Asia/Pacific and Africa. The coffee house acquires most of its coffee beans from Latin America since coffee from this area is the most popular ingredient in Starbucks drinks due to its consistency in flavour and taste. Countries in Latin America where Starbucks gets its coffee beans include; Brazil, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Guatemala and Colombia.

Coffee beans from Africa are some of the globe’s most unique and exotic coffees with exquisite lush and mellow flavours and tastes. Countries in Africa that provide Starbucks with coffee beans are; Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, Zambia and Ethiopia. Ethiopia is particularly honored by Starbucks since it is the only country that has consistently provided Starbucks with rich coffee for decades.

Lastly, Asian countries produce coffee beans with the boldest earthy flavours. The Asian or Pacific countries where Starbucks sources its coffee beans, include; Thailand, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and China.

There are several reasons why Starbucks sources their coffee beans from several countries and not from one country. One of the reasons is that different geographies produce coffee beans with different flavours and tastes. So, for versatility in their beverages, they have to get coffee grown in varying areas.

Another reason is risk. There are a lot of risks involved when growing coffee, like bug infestations and drought that can greatly decrease a country’s harvest and in turn, affect the coffee beans supply. Sourcing from different countries gives the coffee house alternatives in case one of the countries’ harvests is affected.

Lastly, since Starbucks wants to maintain a steady supply of coffee, they need to get their coffee beans from different countries. Different countries harvest their coffee beans at different times of the year. So, if Starbucks sourced their coffee beans from one country, they’d have no supply when that country hasn’t harvested.

Do Starbucks coffee beans come from China?

Yes. Starbucks in America does get some of its Arabica coffee beans from China, but not all its coffee beans. Also, Starbucks launched a Coffee Innovation Park in China. The CIP acquires coffee beans from around the world, including China, to process, roast, package and distribute them globally.

What kind of beans does Starbucks use?

There are four main kinds of coffee beans; Arabica, Excelsa, Robusta and Liberica. According to the Starbucks official website, the coffee house only uses 100% Arabica coffee beans. The company specifically selected Arabica coffee due to its interesting flavours, body and acidity, which makes it perfect for preparing various drinks. However, some Starbucks customers online have speculated that Starbucks also uses Robusta coffee beans in their drinks.

It is worth knowing that Starbucks only sources their coffee beans from the “Coffee Belt” regions because these regions are in higher altitudes, between 3000 and 6000 feet, where Arabica coffee trees thrive.

Where is Starbucks coffee made?

Starbucks coffee is made in the York Roasting Plant which is among the largest roasting plants worldwide, roasting over 3 million pounds of coffee weekly. Also, some of the Starbucks coffee is made at the Coffee Innovation Park (CIP) in China.

Apart from roasting coffee, the York Roasting Plant also distributes and supplies Starbucks coffees across the US, in Starbucks stores and grocery stores.

According to Starbucks, the CIP will be using 30% less energy compared to a same-size traditional plant, making it the first ever green roasting plant.

Who are Starbucks coffee suppliers?

The main Starbucks coffee suppliers are Africa, Latin America and Asia. Countries like Costa Rica, Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Thailand, Indonesia and China have been the biggest coffee suppliers to Starbucks. Also, a company by the name of Tata Coffee Partnership has been supplying Starbucks with coffee since 2004.

Other Starbucks suppliers in the United States include Regency Centers the company that leases property to the coffee house and Dean Foods, the company that supplies the coffee chain with milk.

FAQ.

Where do Starbucks ingredients come from?

Starbucks ingredients come from different locations around the world. For coffee, Starbucks gets their coffee beans from three main regions in the “Coffee Belt” region; Africa, Asia and Latin America. For other ingredients like milk, Starbucks is supplied by dairy companies like Dean Foods, while syrups and sweeteners are typically manufactured in the US.

Where do Starbucks espresso beans come from?

Coffee beans that are typically used to prepare Starbucks espressos come from Latin America and Asia/Pacific. Specifically, the most popular espresso beans, the Starbucks Pike Place coffee beans are sourced from Brazil and Colombia and the Starbucks breakfast and house blends are sourced from Latin America.