The History of Suriname's Early Specialty Coffee

Ever wondered which country in South America planted coffee first—and why you’ve never heard of its beans today? Most coffee lovers know Colombia, Ethiopia, or even Brazil—but Suriname’s forgotten role in early coffee cultivation offers a fascinating glimpse into global coffee migration.

The short answer: Suriname was the first country in South America to grow coffee, introduced as early as the 1700s via Dutch settlers from Java. But today, there is no commercial coffee production in Suriname—its legacy survives only in historical records.

Where Was Coffee First Grown in Suriname?

Coffee arrived in what was then called Dutch Guiana (present-day Suriname) in the early 18th century. The trees were brought from Java by Dutch settlers who had been in Suriname since 1667. According to historical accounts, the first coffee plants were a gift from the Mayor of Amsterdam to a Flemish pirate named Hansback. These trees were planted in Dutch Guiana, and within a few years, coffee cultivation spread into neighbouring French Guiana.

Who Helped Spread Coffee in the Region?

A French convict named Mourgues played a key role. He was reportedly promised amnesty and freedom of movement in France in exchange for introducing coffee plants to French colonies. He succeeded, and coffee cultivation expanded into French Guiana shortly after its introduction in Suriname. This transfer illustrates how colonial networks facilitated early coffee’s geographic spread.

What Happened to Suriname’s Coffee Production?

Despite being the first to cultivate coffee in South America, Suriname no longer produces coffee commercially. Historical records indicate that coffee farming existed in the region, particularly in the areas that were part of Dutch Guiana, but over time production ceased. There are no active coffee farms or commercial exports from Suriname today.

Where Was Suriname’s Coffee Exported?

Norway was once the primary importer of Suriname’s coffee. However, with the end of local production, this trade relationship faded. The country’s historical significance in coffee is now mainly of academic and antiquarian interest, as no meaningful volumes have been produced for decades.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Suriname really the first place in South America to grow coffee?

Yes. Historical records confirm that coffee was first cultivated in Suriname (then Dutch Guiana) in the early 18th century, making it the first South American country to grow coffee, introduced via Java by Dutch settlers around 1700.

Who brought coffee to Suriname?

Coffee was introduced to Suriname by Dutch settlers who had been in the region since 1667. The first coffee plants were a gift from the Amsterdam mayor to a Flemish pirate named Hansback, and they were planted in what was then Dutch Guiana in the early 1700s.

How did coffee spread from Suriname to nearby regions?

A French prisoner named Mourgues helped spread coffee by transporting plants into French Guiana. He was offered freedom in exchange for introducing coffee to French colonies, and he successfully established coffee farming there shortly after it began in Suriname.

Does Suriname still grow or export coffee?

No. Suriname no longer produces coffee commercially. While it was historically significant—especially with Norway as a key importer—there is no active coffee cultivation or export from Suriname today.

Why is Suriname’s coffee history important?

Suriname’s early coffee cultivation offers insight into how coffee spread through colonial trade routes in the 1700s. Its role as South America’s first coffee-growing nation highlights the global movement of coffee from Asia to the Americas via European colonies.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee Beans for Historic Origins

While Suriname no longer produces coffee, explore related single origins that highlight early global coffee migration. FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe offers bright floral and citrus notes akin to early arabica profiles, while Panama Humbera presents the complex fruitiness now associated with heritage cultivars. For a more earthy, vintage-style cup, try their Java-origin offering—echoing the island where Suriname’s first coffee trees originated. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.