Food & Drink

Coffee Farming Regions Quiz

Yirgacheffe to Yemen — how origin shapes your cup

Coffee Farming Regions Quiz: From Bean Belt to Cup

A single lot of Panama Geisha coffee sold for $10,013 per pound in 2022 — the highest coffee price ever recorded at auction. Coffee is grown in roughly 70 countries clustered in the 'Bean Belt' between the tropics, and the country, region, altitude, variety, and processing method all leave fingerprints on what ends up in your cup.

How It Works

Each round presents 10 randomized questions from a pool of 50, with four multiple-choice options and instant feedback after every answer. Your final score comes with a performance tier and shareable results.

What You'll Learn

You'll explore Ethiopia's heirloom Yirgacheffe and Sidamo, Colombia's volcanic Huila and Nariño, Brazil's vast naturals, Vietnam's robusta empire, Kenya's SL-28s, Sumatra's wet-hulled Mandheling, Hawaiian Kona, Yemeni Mokha, and the auction-record-breaking Panama Geisha — plus processing methods, altitude effects, and how leaf rust and climate change are reshaping origins.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Arabica and Robusta?

Arabica grows at higher elevations (1,200–2,200 m) and is generally smoother and more nuanced; Robusta grows at lower elevations, has roughly twice the caffeine, and brings stronger, more bitter flavors.

Why is Panama Geisha so expensive?

Geisha is a low-yielding variety that produces an exceptionally floral, tea-like cup; rediscovered at Hacienda La Esmeralda in 2004, it has fetched record auction prices ever since.

How does processing affect coffee flavor?

Washed coffees taste cleaner and brighter, naturals are fruitier and heavier, and honey/anaerobic processes sit in between or amplify funky, fermented notes.

Last updated: April 2026