Why does elevation matter?

Elevation and altitude are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different things. Elevation refers to the height of coffee plants above sea level, while altitude refers to the height above land when flying. In general, higher elevation coffee plants produce better coffee due to the cooler temperatures they are exposed to. This slows down cherry development, leading to coffee beans with greater density, acidity, and sucrose. Arabica coffee is typically grown at elevations above 1,000 meters above sea level (masl), with some of the finest coffee produced at elevations above 1,800masl. However, coffee grown at lower elevations can still be high-quality, depending on other growing conditions and factors, such as climate, varietals, and processing method.