Crop & market
Coffee Crop Calendar
Overview
Harvest at a glance
Each origin’s principal harvest window. Regional variation within a country is frequently larger than the difference between two countries, so the individual calendars carry the detail.
- Tanzania3 regional calendars · export august through to the following june, peaking october–march
Harvest
Jun–Oct and Jul–Dec and May–Aug
- Uganda4 regional calendars · export year-round, with the heaviest robusta shipments december–april
Harvest
Nov–Feb and Apr–Jul and Oct–Feb and Aug–Nov
- Kenya2 regional calendars · export december–june for main crop, with early-crop shipments from august
Harvest
Oct–Dec and May–Jul
- Ethiopia2 regional calendars · export december–august, with the freshest arrivals january–april
Harvest
Oct–Jan and Oct–Feb
- Rwanda1 regional calendar · export june–december
Harvest
Mar–Jul
- Burundi1 regional calendar · export june–december
Harvest
Mar–Jul
These are typical ranges
Harvest timing shifts year to year with rainfall, and within a country with altitude and aspect. Treat the calendars below as planning ranges rather than fixed dates, and confirm the position for the specific crop when a shipment window is agreed.
3 regional cycles
Tanzania coffee harvest calendar
- Crop year
- Crop year commonly quoted July–June
- Harvest
- June–October in the south; July–December in the north
- Export window
- August through to the following June, peaking October–March
- Ports
- Dar es Salaam, Tanga
Southern highlands — Mbeya, Songwe, Mbinga (Arabica)
Crop year commonly quoted July–June
- Flowering: Sep–Nov
- Cherry development: Nov–May
- Harvest: Jun–Oct. Peak July–September
- Processing & drying: Jun–Nov
- Dry milling & grading: Aug–Jan
- Main export window: Aug–May
The southern belt harvests earlier than the north and supplies the larger share of Tanzanian Arabica volume.
Northern highlands — Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Meru (Arabica)
Crop year commonly quoted July–June
- Flowering: Oct–Dec
- Cherry development: Dec–Jun
- Harvest: Jul–Dec. Peak August–October
- Processing & drying: Jul–Jan
- Dry milling & grading: Sep–Mar
- Main export window: Sep–Jun
Higher altitudes on Kilimanjaro and Meru pick latest, extending the window into December.
Kagera (Robusta)
Crop year commonly quoted July–June
- Flowering: Sep–Nov and Mar–Apr
- Cherry development: Nov–Apr
- Harvest: May–Aug
- Processing & drying: May–Sep
- Dry milling & grading: Jul–Nov
- Main export window: Jul–Feb
Kagera Robusta is predominantly dry-processed, so the drying phase dominates the processing window.
| Region | Altitude | Species | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kilimanjaro | 1,400–1,900 m | Arabica | July–December |
| Arusha & Mount Meru | 1,300–1,800 m | Arabica | July–November |
| Mbeya & Songwe | 1,400–2,000 m | Arabica | June–October |
| Mbinga & Ruvuma | 1,200–1,800 m | Arabica | June–October |
| Kagera | 1,000–1,500 m | Robusta, Arabica | May–August |
| Kigoma | 1,300–1,800 m | Arabica | June–October |
4 regional cycles
Uganda coffee harvest calendar
- Crop year
- Crop year commonly quoted October–September
- Harvest
- Robusta main crop November–February with a fly crop April–July; Elgon Arabica October–February
- Export window
- Year-round, with the heaviest Robusta shipments December–April
- Ports
- Mombasa (Northern Corridor), Dar es Salaam (Central Corridor)
Robusta — central, south and Masaka (main crop)
Crop year commonly quoted October–September
- Flowering: Feb–Apr
- Cherry development: Apr–Oct
- Harvest: Nov–Feb
- Processing & drying: Nov–Mar
- Dry milling & grading: Dec–Apr
- Main export window: Dec–Jun
The main Robusta crop supplies the bulk of Ugandan export volume.
Robusta — fly crop (western and lakeshore)
Crop year commonly quoted October–September
- Flowering: Aug–Oct
- Cherry development: Oct–Mar
- Harvest: Apr–Jul
- Processing & drying: Apr–Aug
- Dry milling & grading: May–Sep
- Main export window: May–Oct
The second, smaller cycle keeps Ugandan Robusta available for most of the year.
Arabica — Mount Elgon (Bugisu)
Crop year commonly quoted October–September
- Flowering: Feb–Apr
- Cherry development: Apr–Sep
- Harvest: Oct–Feb
- Processing & drying: Oct–Mar
- Dry milling & grading: Nov–Apr
- Main export window: Dec–Jul
Arabica — West Nile (Okoro) and Kigezi
Crop year commonly quoted October–September
- Flowering: Jan–Mar
- Cherry development: Mar–Jul
- Harvest: Aug–Nov
- Processing & drying: Aug–Dec
- Dry milling & grading: Oct–Feb
- Main export window: Oct–Apr
West Nile picks earlier than Elgon, which is what makes DRUGAR available ahead of the washed Elgon crop.
| Region | Altitude | Species | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bugisu (Mount Elgon) | 1,500–2,300 m | Arabica | October–February |
| Rwenzori | 1,400–2,000 m | Arabica | August–November |
| West Nile (Okoro) | 1,400–1,800 m | Arabica | August–November |
| Kigezi | 1,500–2,200 m | Arabica | May–August and October–January |
| Masaka & Greater Lake Victoria | 1,100–1,400 m | Robusta | November–February with a fly crop April–July |
2 regional cycles
Kenya coffee harvest calendar
- Crop year
- Crop year commonly quoted October–September
- Harvest
- Main crop October–December; early (fly) crop May–July
- Export window
- December–June for main crop, with early-crop shipments from August
- Ports
- Mombasa
Main crop — central highlands and Mount Kenya
Crop year commonly quoted October–September
- Flowering: Feb–Apr. Long rains
- Cherry development: Apr–Sep
- Harvest: Oct–Dec
- Processing & drying: Oct–Jan
- Dry milling & grading: Nov–Feb
- Main export window: Dec–Jun
The main crop carries the majority of volume and the tightest factory separations.
Early / fly crop
Crop year commonly quoted October–September
- Flowering: Oct–Nov. Short rains
- Cherry development: Nov–Apr
- Harvest: May–Jul
- Processing & drying: May–Aug
- Dry milling & grading: Jun–Sep
- Main export window: Jul–Oct
Smaller and more variable than the main crop; useful for bridging supply mid-year.
| Region | Altitude | Species | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nyeri | 1,600–2,000 m | Arabica | October–December, fly crop May–July |
| Kirinyaga | 1,400–1,900 m | Arabica | October–December, fly crop May–July |
| Murang’a | 1,350–1,800 m | Arabica | October–December, fly crop May–July |
| Embu & Meru | 1,300–1,950 m | Arabica | October–December, fly crop May–July |
| Kiambu | 1,500–1,800 m | Arabica | October–December, fly crop May–July |
| Kisii, Bungoma & Trans-Nzoia | 1,500–1,900 m | Arabica | October–December |
2 regional cycles
Ethiopia coffee harvest calendar
- Crop year
- Crop year commonly quoted October–September
- Harvest
- October–January, varying by region and altitude
- Export window
- December–August, with the freshest arrivals January–April
- Ports
- Djibouti (primary transit port)
Southern and western Ethiopia — Yirgacheffe, Sidama, Guji, Limu, Djimma
Crop year commonly quoted October–September
- Flowering: Feb–Apr
- Cherry development: Apr–Sep
- Harvest: Oct–Jan. Higher altitude picks later
- Processing & drying: Oct–Feb. Naturals extend furthest
- Dry milling & grading: Dec–Apr
- Main export window: Dec–Aug
Freshest arrivals into Europe and North America land roughly February to May.
Eastern highlands — Harrar
Crop year commonly quoted October–September
- Flowering: Mar–May
- Cherry development: May–Sep
- Harvest: Oct–Feb
- Processing & drying: Oct–Mar
- Dry milling & grading: Jan–May
- Main export window: Jan–Aug
Harrar is dry-processed throughout, so drying and resting extend the pre-shipment timeline.
| Region | Altitude | Species | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yirgacheffe | 1,750–2,200 m | Arabica | October–January |
| Sidama (Sidamo) | 1,500–2,200 m | Arabica | October–January |
| Guji | 1,700–2,300 m | Arabica | October–January |
| Limu | 1,400–2,000 m | Arabica | October–January |
| Harrar | 1,400–2,100 m | Arabica | October–February |
| Djimma (Jimma) | 1,400–1,900 m | Arabica | October–January |
| Kaffa & Bench Maji | 1,400–2,000 m | Arabica | October–January |
1 regional cycle
Rwanda coffee harvest calendar
- Crop year
- Crop year commonly quoted April–March
- Harvest
- March–July, with the peak in April and May
- Export window
- June–December
- Ports
- Mombasa (Northern Corridor), Dar es Salaam (Central Corridor)
National — washing station cycle
Crop year commonly quoted April–March
- Flowering: Sep–Nov
- Cherry development: Nov–Mar
- Harvest: Mar–Jul. Peak April–May
- Processing & drying: Mar–Aug
- Dry milling & grading: Jun–Oct
- Main export window: Jun–Dec
Higher stations around Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru run several weeks behind the Kivu shore.
| Region | Altitude | Species | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Kivu — Rutsiro, Karongi, Nyamasheke, Rusizi | 1,450–1,900 m | Arabica | March–June |
| Huye & Nyamagabe | 1,600–2,000 m | Arabica | April–July |
| Gakenke & Rulindo | 1,500–1,900 m | Arabica | March–June |
1 regional cycle
Burundi coffee harvest calendar
- Crop year
- Crop year commonly quoted April–March
- Harvest
- March–July
- Export window
- June–December
- Ports
- Dar es Salaam (Central Corridor), Mombasa (Northern Corridor)
National — washing station cycle
Crop year commonly quoted April–March
- Flowering: Sep–Nov
- Cherry development: Nov–Mar
- Harvest: Mar–Jul. Peak April–June
- Processing & drying: Mar–Aug
- Dry milling & grading: Jun–Oct
- Main export window: Jun–Dec
Kayanza and Ngozi at higher altitude finish latest; low-lying Bubanza starts first.
| Region | Altitude | Species | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kayanza | 1,700–2,000 m | Arabica | April–July |
| Ngozi | 1,600–1,900 m | Arabica | April–July |
| Gitega & Muramvya | 1,500–1,850 m | Arabica | March–June |
Stages
What each stage means
The same six stages are tracked for every origin, so the calendars can be read against each other.
- Flowering
- Blossom following the rains. Timing sets the harvest roughly seven to nine months later, so an erratic flowering shows up as a split or extended picking season.
- Cherry development
- Fruit fill and maturation on the tree. The period where drought, hail and pest pressure translate directly into outturn and screen distribution.
- Harvest
- Selective picking of ripe cherry. Peak weeks inside this window carry the best separations; the tails of the harvest are usually less consistent.
- Processing & drying
- Pulping, fermentation, washing or cherry drying, then drying to target moisture. Runs alongside and slightly beyond the harvest.
- Dry milling & grading
- Hulling, screening, density and colour sorting, and preparation to the contracted grade. Coffee usually rests in parchment before this step.
- Main export window
- The period in which fresh crop is realistically shippable. Arrival at destination follows by roughly three to eight weeks depending on routing.
Crop years
Three conventions, one region
Because the conventions differ, a contract should state the crop year explicitly rather than relying on the phrase “current crop”.
| Origin | Crop year commonly quoted | Harvest | Export window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | Crop year commonly quoted July–June | June–October in the south; July–December in the north | August through to the following June, peaking October–March |
| Uganda | Crop year commonly quoted October–September | Robusta main crop November–February with a fly crop April–July; Elgon Arabica October–February | Year-round, with the heaviest Robusta shipments December–April |
| Kenya | Crop year commonly quoted October–September | Main crop October–December; early (fly) crop May–July | December–June for main crop, with early-crop shipments from August |
| Ethiopia | Crop year commonly quoted October–September | October–January, varying by region and altitude | December–August, with the freshest arrivals January–April |
| Rwanda | Crop year commonly quoted April–March | March–July, with the peak in April and May | June–December |
| Burundi | Crop year commonly quoted April–March | March–July | June–December |