Terroir: Coffee from Seed to Harvest

by Jem Challender

Great coffee is the result of a plant’s genotype and the terroir that surrounds it. The environmental factors of climate and soil, combined with farming techniques, create the specific environment, or terroir, of a farm. Some of the environmental factors that affect a coffee plant in its lifetime, such as the elevation at which it grows, are impossible to alter. Others, such as soil nutrition, can be altered, but often only with vast capital expenditure.

To get a clearer picture of the finances of farm management and how aspects of terroir can affect a plant’s shape, size, and other characteristics, we interviewed a range of scientists, agronomists, and green buyers. This book explores how terroir determines the character of a coffee and the success of a crop. It offers an overview of the factors you can control and the steps you can take to support a sustainable coffee crop and produce a great-tasting cup.

162 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2023

Reviews

[Phaedon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not the intended audience for this book. The only cultivation of coffee I do is keeping one potted coffee tree alive. Other than for pure interest value, this book is intended for readers that actually have an intention to grow coffee at some sort of meaningful scale. It covers important considerations like soil, climate, elevation and protection from pathogens and explains some of the basic science that underpins successful harvests.

Terroir is a fairly short read and the language and diagrams are very clear and easy to follow. The photographs included in the book are stunning, and really add to the reading experience. The content is well-organised, though it takes some unexpected forms. For instance, the book includes verbatim interviews in question and answer format in certain sections, which is relatively unusual. Much of the information comes from individual experts, both in interview format and in more traditional distilled sections.

For those with a casual interest in understanding how coffee is grown, some of this work may feel a bit overwhelming, but those who have understood the basics of the coffee supply chain may find it a valuable addition to their knowledge. For anyone involved in coffee farming, this will no doubt be a valuable resource.

[Grace B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think another book like this exists on the market. It felt a little bit like an article or a research paper, but I guess that’s hard to avoid with so much statistical data. The photos are beautiful, the information was definitely new to me, so it had my interest peaked.

It’s not per se a coffee table book (heh) but I’m sure all the weird coffee people (like me) have it there right next to James Hoffman’s World Atlas of Coffee.