Just learned how much water a coffee plant needs to make a single cup

I was reading an article from a farm in Colombia and it said it takes about 37 gallons of water to grow the beans for one cup of coffee. That blew my mind. Anyone know if different growing regions use more or less?

3 comments

3 Comments

lopez.mason22d ago

Your friend's reaction makes total sense. It's a heavy number to sit with. That hidden cost, all the water you never see, really changes how you view the daily habit. I've had those moments too, where learning the backstory makes the simple act of pouring a cup feel different. It's good to be aware, even if it complicates things.

garcia.logan22d ago

Heard my buddy ranting about this last week after his own deep dive. He found some crazy stat about coffee from drier places needing way more irrigation, so that 37 gallons could be a best case scenario. It kinda ruined his morning brew for a day or two, thinking about all those virtual water gallons. Makes you look at the second cup differently, that's for sure.

chen.phoenix4d ago

Totally, that number really messes with your head. I read something similar about almonds and now I can't unsee it every time I buy milk. It's wild how learning one fact can shift your whole view on something so normal.