Between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn

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It's cold and snowy in Indiana with storms in the South and blizzards in Buffalo but somewhere in the world it’s warm and sunny and the perfect spot for growing the little green berries that ripen into coffee beans. According to coffee growers, that spot is between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, where Coffea Arabica and Coffea Canephora (known as Robusta) grow at altitudes ranging from about 650 to 6,500 feet.

These two imaginary lines that circle the planet are the roadmap to what many consider to be the perfect cup of coffee. A climate controlled chamber where the soil, humidity and altitude coax the sensitive coffee plant to produce at its best. The Tropic of Cancer, latitude approximately 23°27′ N of the terrestrial Equator, is commonly held to be the incubator for the perfect cup of coffee. It’s here that coffee berries ripen into coffee beans. 

There’s something both satisfying and alluring in knowing that the depth and aroma of your morning espresso began in the dark mysterious tropics in a region that receives a higher dose of the Sun’s energy than anywhere else on the planet.

It’s no wonder that coffee is considered to be a drink of well being in Italy and the inspirational muse of musicians, writers, artists and just about everybody else in the world.

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