This country will soon offer the first coffee ever grown in a continental climate

When you think about the origen of your coffee you think about Brazil, Colombia, or Ethiopia...you certainly would never think of Spain! However, that is soon about to change.

Next year, in Catalonia, an autonomous community located in Spain, will see the first harvest of coffee grown in a continental climate anywhere in the world.

As reported by Catalan News, Joan Giráldez and Eva Prat (pictured), entrepreneurs who established a coffee plantation they named Castellvilar in Sant Vicenç de Torelló, Osona, central Catalonia, eight years ago, hope that their coffee plants will yield their first significant harvest in 2025.

Photo taken from the Castellvilar website

According to the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, some small groups of volunteers have already sampled the first batch of coffee from Castellvilar with roaring success.

However, coffee from this Catalan plantation won't be available for sale until next year when the 300 plants currently on the farm start yielding sufficient harvest.

Subsequently, an additional 5,000 plants are slated for planting, which will significantly boost coffee production.

Joan Giráldez and Eva Prat explained to Catalan News that the unique climate in which their coffee is cultivated sets it apart, akin to high-altitude coffee, as the beans undergo a slow maturation process due to the extreme temperatures, resulting in highly sought-after coffee beans.

The Castellvilar coffee project has been underway since 2016. La Vanguardia reports that Giráldez, who has gained experience working in different companies within the industry and currently distributes Italian coffee, initiated a thorough study of the estate where he intended to set up the plantation.

Pictured is the Castellvilar estate, from the Castellvilar website

The estate is situated in a valley, which serves to moderate the severe weather conditions commonly associated with a continental climate.

This type of climate is known for temperature fluctuations, unlike the stable conditions found in tropical and subtropical climates, which are optimal for coffee cultivation. Temperatures in this region range from -5ºC to up to 35ºC.

Although Giráldez and Prat hope to increase production over time, Giráldez told Catalan News that their goal is not large-scale production but instead to simply ensure they continue to have enough seeds to keep on replanting and slowly expland their coffee plantation.

In addition the duo hope to use their project to educate locals about coffee farming with Giráldez telling Catalan News, "We want to raise awareness of the effort that goes into every cup of coffee."

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