What is the coffee crop cycle?

The coffee crop cycle is the recurring annual pattern of growth, flowering, fruiting, and harvest. It begins with flowering - white, jasmine-scented blossoms triggered by rainfall after a dry period - followed by a development window of seven to nine months before cherries are ready to pick.

Timing varies significantly by origin and altitude. Colombia can support two harvests a year due to its equatorial position and two rainy seasons. Brazil has one concentrated harvest between May and September. East African origins typically harvest October through February.

Understanding the cycle is essential for planning your buying calendar. If you want to be among the first to a well-regarded Ethiopian new crop, you need to know when that coffee typically arrives in Europe and be talking to your importer months before that. The cycle governs availability - every lot on every offer sheet is a product of it.