Coffeeclues

Shade grown coffee commonly refers to the coffee grown under a group of trees. This coffee production ensures environmental protection, it serves as a home for variety of birds and the coffee produced is of excellent flavor and free from chemicals.

Shade Grown coffee
Some varieties of coffee are less tolerable to sunlight and prefer shade for their growth. Therefore, they are grown under shade. The trees that provide shade not only protect the plants from direct sun but also are helpful in mulching the soil by their fallen leaves. They also help in soil moisture retention. These trees also act as natural habitat for birds. Birds serve to protect the plants from damage due to insects. Therefore, in case of coffee plants grown under shade there is less use of chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Therefore, taking this coffee poses less toxic effects.

Benefits of Shade Grown Coffee

• As it is grown slowly under shade, sugars in this coffee increases and the flavor is enhanced. Complex flavors are produced.
• It is organic and free from chemicals.
• It promotes an healthy environment. These trees aid in filtering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and prevents global warming. It helps in preventing soil erosion.
• Growth of coffee under shade prevents weed formation, protects from frost and the number of pollinators increases and thereby produces a better fruit.
• Coffee arabica is produced better when grown in 35-65% shade.

Different Levels Involved in Growing Coffee Under Shade

• Rustic: It is a small family farm. There is little alteration in the vegetation.Various tree species are present. It has 70 to 100% shade cover.
• Traditional polyculture: Coffee is grown under the shade of planted and native forest trees. Planted trees includes fruits and vegetable trees. Shade cover is about 60 to 90%.
• Commercial polyculture: Here coffee plants are grown under the shade of fruit and timber plants. Epiphytes are removed. This method makes the use of pesticides and fertilizers. Shade cover is 30 to 60 %.
• Shaded monoculture: Coffee growth is under two varieties of tree species. Epiphytes are removed. It provides a shade cover of 10 to 30%.