Quality from the start

Coffee is a tropical, evergreen agricultural crop. Its ripe fruit, the coffee cherry, usually contains two seeds, the coffee beans whose quality depends heavily on the growing conditions of the plantations: the soil, temperature, rainfall and cultivation. Ideal conditions are found in equatorial regions. Tchibo therefore sources its raw coffee from the countries of Central and Latin America, East Africa and the equatorial countries of Asia.

Tchibo strives to get the best quality coffee from its origin. Therefore, we rely on good and long-term relationships with suppliers - exporters and traders, as well as direct relations with coffee growers. Tchibo coffee experts also regularly visit coffee-producing countries to check the quality of the raw coffee.

Arabica and Robusta

Two types of coffee make up 99 percent of the coffee market: Arabica (Coffea arabica) and Robusta (Coffea canephora). While the Arabica coffee plant places high demands on climate, soil and cultivation, and grows almost exclusively in high altitude regions, Robusta is much more resistant to cold and humidity. It is therefore mostly cultivated in tropical lowlands. These differences are reflected in the taste. Arabica beans have an elegant and balanced flavour. Robusta beans have a fuller and stronger taste. In Germany, the Arabica bean is preferred. Tchibo, too, almost exclusively uses this high quality coffee bean in its coffee blends.

Ecologically responsible farming: soil and water

Along with the coffee plants, two resources in particular play an important role when it comes to coffee cultivation and processing: soil and water. These need to be protected – for economic reasons too, because quality coffee can only be produced when the soil is healthy and the water supply is safeguarded. And good quality is the only way for coffee farmers to earn a fair income, and for us as a company to be able to sell you coffee in the desired quality in the long-term.

Improved working and living conditions for coffee growers

80 percent of the world's coffee growers are small farmers. To help improve their living conditions and ability to compete, we support them and their families through ‘self-help’ projects, as well as by buying gradually increasing volumes of responsibly produced coffee.