Ghana is a country in Africa specializing in small-batch coffee, which comes from the plants that naturally grow there. Although they’re not in the top 10 of producing coffee, farmers are turning to niche markets to sell their premium-quality beans. While their total yield hasn’t increased much over the years, the current coffee demand has started to change things.
History of Coffee in Ghana
The Robusta coffee plant is an indigenous coffee plant in West Africa, a coffee plant that grows beans typically for espresso and instant coffee. Unlike some countries that had coffee plants introduced, Robusta beans are native and flourish in the low elevations of the country. However, it wasn’t until the 18th century that coffee cultivation began.
During the 1980s, the government had set up plantations to help increase coffee production. However, farmers ditched the crop when the price of coffee crashed around the same time. Eventually, the plantation land was split up for private ownership, with some farms still producing coffee. The overall production hasn’t increased much until very recently, with specialty coffee being a hot commodity in the coffee world.
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Coffee Farming in Ghana
Coffee-Growing Regions
Since the Robusta coffee plants are native to Ghana, there are quite a few regions that farm these plants. The regions of Ashtani, East, Central, and West Volta, Brong, and Ahafo are the main coffee regions in Ghana, with an elevation of around 400–700 meters. This is in stark contrast to the Strictly High Grown beans from Arabica plants, which are farmed and harvested at around 1,200–1,400 meters above sea level.
Farming & Harvesting
Unlike the elevation-grown Arabica beans, Robusta beans do best at lower elevations and can flourish in tropical weather. The Robusta plants, native to West Africa, are typically grown on small-lot farms. These small farms produce around 100,000–300,000 green coffee beans per harvest, which typically occurs in September.
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Current Yearly Production
Ghana produces roughly 4 million pounds of coffee annually, earning 42nd place on the list of top coffee-producing countries. Coffee farming and producing is a highly competitive market, but they’re not necessarily competing with them. While many of the top-tier countries are growing the Arabica bean, Ghana grows the Robusta bean due to its origins in Africa. In other words, Ghana has a niche coffee product that other countries don’t necessarily have.
Ghana Coffee Flavor Profile
Type of Coffee Bean & Roast
Ghanaian small-batch artisan coffee is growing in popularity, especially for espresso roast blends. Coffee farmers are now starting to create Robusta-Arabica hybrid coffee beans, creating a new level of coffee flavor. Still, if you want to try 100% Robusta bean coffee from Ghana, we recommend trying an espresso roast to start. Although it’s the standard roast for Robusta beans, there’s no harm in trying other roasts.
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Flavors & Notes
Robusta beans are not as popular as the Arabica bean, primarily due to their earthy and bitter flavor. While it’s not the best choice for drip-brew coffee, Robusta beans are great for espresso. When Robusta coffee is brewed in an espresso maker, it creates a foamy layer (crema) that Arabica beans struggle to make. If you decide to try Ghanaian coffee,
Best Ways to Brew Ghana Coffee
Since Ghanaian coffee is still growing in popularity as a niche coffee product, it’s hard to tell what the best ways to brew it can be. We recommend trying the two methods for Ghana coffee, though other brewing methods could work as well.
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Espresso
Robusta beans are usually grown and sold for espresso, so it’s not surprising that espresso-brewing Ghana coffee is probably the best method. Espresso brewing is possible at home with the right equipment, giving you the ability to make any coffee shop drink with top-notch quality coffee beans.
Cold Brew
When in doubt, make a batch of cold brew coffee. Many coffee beans and roasts can successfully make delicious cold brew coffee. It may even cut down on the bitterness of the Robusta bean, bringing out flavors that the bitterness could have covered.
Conclusion
Ghana is an emerging country on the coffee exportation scene, and coffee lovers all over the world should keep their eyes peeled to sample the beans and enjoy the brew! If you’re a niche coffee lover with a taste for full-bodied coffee, you won’t want to miss out on Ghana.
Jaimie is a freelance writer fueled by coffee, whether it’s hot, iced, or made from a local coffee shop. She enjoys writing all things coffee, especially if it means trying the latest coffee shop trends (hello cold foam!). After spending years writing poems, college essays, and short stories, it only a matter of time to turn writing into a career. Writing about coffee simply combined two of her favorite things!
When she’s not drinking coffee by the minute and writing at her laptop, Jaimie spends time hiking, exercising, and living an active life. She also loves to snuggle up with a good book and her dog, Margo. If you catch her without a cup of coffee, she’s probably on her way to the coffee maker now.
