Coffee, hot cocoa or tea?

When you drink a cup of coffee, hot cocoa, or tea, you are taking part in a global system that begins in the soil but extends far beyond the field. Specific soils enable coffee shrubs, cacao trees, and tea plants to grow by providing water, organic matter, nutrients, and physical support. These soil conditions shape yields and quality, but they are only the starting point.

After harvest, beans and leaves undergo processing, fermentation or roasting, transport, trading, packaging, and retail. Along the way, many stakeholders are involved: farmers, workers, processors, traders, companies, and consumers across continents.

Optional reading: De Felice et al. (2025) show the many stakeholders involved on the way from soil to your cup of coffee.