Where does the coffee we consume come from?

Finns claim to be the biggest coffee drinkers in the world. And it may be true. However, in absolute terms there are several bigger countries in the European Union (EU) that far exceed Finland in coffee production and imports.

According to Eurostat, the EU imported in 2018 over 3 million tonnes of coffee from abroad, 12% more than 10 years ago. Those imports were worth 7.8 billion euros.

Most of the coffee imported in 2018 from non-EU countries came from two countries: Brazil (901,000 tonnes imported to the EU, or 29% of the total extra-EU imports) and Vietnam (770,000 tonnes, 25%). They were followed by Honduras (228,000 tonnes, 7%), Colombia (173,000 tonnes, 6%), Uganda (161,000 tonnes, 5%), India (157,000 tonnes, 5%), Peru (127,000 tonnes, 4%) and Ethiopia (87,000 tonnes, 3%).

These imports were mainly into Germany (with 1.1 million tonnes imported, or 36% of the total extra-EU imports) and Italy (587,000 tonnes, 19%), ahead of Belgium (277,000 tonnes, 9%), Spain (260,000 tonnes, 8%), France (220,000 tonnes, 7%) and the United Kingdom (193,000 tonnes, 6%). 

Germany and Italy, top coffee producers

In 2018, over 1.8 million tonnes of coffee were produced in the EU, 3% less than 10 years ago. The EU’s coffee production was worth €10.5 billion, and it was equivalent to around 3.4 kilograms per inhabitant in 2018.

Source: Eurostat.

Among the EU Member States, Germany produced the most roasted coffee in 2018 (551,000 tonnes, or 31% of the total EU production), followed by Italy (414,000 tonnes, 23%), ahead of France (139,000 tonnes, 8%), Spain and the Netherlands (each 138,000 tonnes, 8%) as well as Sweden (91,000 tonnes, 5%).

In 2018, these six EU Member States produced 83% of the total EU production of roasted coffee.

If you are a coffee lover, Finnish or not, have a Happy Coffee Day. See you at the cafeteria!