What is Shade Grown

"Shade Tree Grown" coffees are grown under a canopy of sun filtering trees.

Traditionally, all coffee was grown under a canopy of shade trees. The original tipica and borbon varieties, brought to the New World centuries ago, are relatively intolerant of direct sunlight and require the filtering effect of shade trees. These plants are slow maturing and require ample space to grow. They are typically only moderately prolific bean producers, yet render a wonderfully flavourful coffee. Many of the high quality arabica beans we roast and serve are related to or are this original variety of coffee.

Today, the smaller peasant-owned farms carry on the tradition, planting and cultivating their crops high on the slopes of mountains just as they have for generations. The coffee plants exist happily intertwined with native vegetation and food crops, under an umbrella of multistoried fruit trees, leguminous trees and native hardwoods. Every plant and tree is harvested, providing food, shelter and fuel for the families on the farm. Any excess products are sold at the local markets, thus providing an economic buffer for the coffee farmer. The trees provide a natural fertilizer of nitrogen-rich mulch to the coffee soil. The mulch is useful in soil moisture conservation, suppression of weed growth and soil erosion.

Shaded coffee farms perform a function of being sanctuaries for as many as 150 species of resident and migratory birds and animal life. The presence of birds is significant for the coffee farmer because a diverse and large bird population can often be an excellent source of insect and pest control. This biodiversity results in a far lower risk of infestation, plague, and disease in the coffee farm, resulting in less need for insecticides and more sustainability for the farmer.

Many of the larger "modern" coffee farms have elected to remove shade trees and plant more "sun-tolerant" coffee varieties in dense stands for the hopes of higher production. While higher production is likely, the ecological price tag is higher on these farms due to the increased dependence on herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers as well as increased soil erosion and water runoff.

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