In Ethiopia, coffee is produced using four methods: forest, semi-forest, garden, and plantation. Generally, Ethiopian coffee is grown sustainably, in an environmentally friendly, shade-grown, and ecologically sound manner. It is estimated that these different production systems make up 10% forest, 35% semi-forest, 50% garden, and 5% plantation of the total coffee production in the country. Plantation and cooperative coffee account for over 10% of the export volume and about 15% of the value. It is estimated that smallholder farmers produce more than 90% of Ethiopian coffee organically.

Forest Coffee

Coffee naturally grows in its ancestral home in the wild forests of Southwestern and Southeastern Ethiopia. These indigenous coffees grow and exist with an array of overhead shade trees, shrubs, and small bushes. They grow under natural forest cover and are gathered by farmers with minimal tree maintenance. The farmers and the coffee plants live together in an ecological balance for mutual benefit. Forest coffee mainly exists in the birthplace of Coffee Arabica, the Southwestern part of Ethiopia.

Semi-Forest Coffee

The natural forest coffee gradually transformed into semi-forest coffee production with slight modifications to the forest. In this production, slashing of weeds, small bushes, and shrubs for shade regulation, as well as infilling with self-grown seedlings, are considered normal cultural practices. Southwestern Ethiopia is the main source of forest and semi-forest coffee. This type of coffee has clearly delineated boundaries of ownership, although the trees are usually located away from agricultural plots.

Garden Coffee

Garden coffees are planted by farmers near their homes and often intercropped with other crops or trees. Coffee is part of the garden crops, along with fruits and the false banana. Weed control and organic fertilizers are used in this production system. Light to medium shade levels are often maintained, and old and less productive trees are usually pruned. This system is much more productive than semi-forest and forest production. Sidama and Yirgachefe are well-known for their garden coffee production.

Plantation Coffee

Plantation coffee is grown on large commercial farms, both private and state-owned. It is a growing trend in Ethiopia, and it utilizes highly intensified agronomy practices such as pruning, mulching, organic fertilizing, stumping, integrated weed and pest management, well-regulated shade and plant density, and planting of high-yielder seedlings and disease-resistant varieties. Many medium and large state farms exist in Southwestern Ethiopia, particularly in the Jimma, Bench Maji, and Kaffa Zones.