Australia is a small but growing coffee origin, producing primarily high-quality arabica in subtropical and tropical zones of Queensland and New South Wales. The industry has developed niche markets for specialty coffee, leveraging Australia’s strong domestic coffee culture and focus on quality. Most of Australia’s estimated 50 coffee farms are small-scale and integrate mechanization to address labor costs.1 While production is limited—estimated at under 1,000 metric tons annually—Australia’s research institutions, including Southern Cross University and the University of Queensland, contribute to global coffee R&D through variety testing, climate resilience studies, and breeding program assessment.
Australia
Global export rank
XXth
International Coffee Organization, 2023-2025 mean
Our Strategy
Australia, though a small coffee producer, brings outsized scientific expertise to global coffee research. Southern Cross University hosts the International Multilocation Variety Trial (IMLVT), applying advanced evaluation methods to assess 31 global coffee varieties in Australia’s unique subtropical, mechanized-harvest environment—yielding insights valuable to the Asia-Pacific and beyond. In partnership with the University of Queensland, WCR adapted the world-class Breeding Program Assessment Tool (BPAT) for coffee, enabling breeding programs worldwide to strengthen technical, managerial, and capacity foundations. Australian research collaborations support innovation in coffee breeding and variety evaluation relevant for the entire global sector, helping ensure a resilient, high-quality coffee supply for farmers and industry.
