BELOVED BEANS

You may be surprised to learn that you can grow coffee in gardens in many parts of Australia. Coffee is associated with places like Ethiopia, as it evolved in elevated subtropical to tropical parts of Africa and Asia. With shelter and patience, it grows beyond its natural equatorial region. If gardenias grow well at your place, so too will coffee. At the very extremes of its ideal climate zone, the plants may grow but will not flower and fruit every year.

Don’t imagine you’ll be self-sufficient in coffee with just a few shrubs. A cup of coffee uses a lot of beans — just watch your local barista grinding