Yunnan coffee is a beverage crop with high economic value.

The western and southern parts of Yunnan Province are located between 15 °N and the Tropic of Cancer, and most areas are 1000-2000 meters above sea level. The topography is dominated by mountains and slopes, with large ups and downs, fertile soil, sufficient sunshine, rich rainfall and large temperature difference between day and night. These unique natural conditions form the particularity of Yunnan small grain coffee taste-strong but not bitter, fragrant but not strong, slightly fruity. As early as the 1950s, Yunnan small seed coffee was very popular in the international coffee market and was rated as the top grade of coffee.

Coffee is a kind of beverage crop with high economic value, which is called the three largest beverages in the world together with cocoa and tea, and its output and consumption ranks first among the three beverages. Coffee is rich in protein, fat, sucrose, starch, glucose, caffeine and other substances, rich aroma and delicious taste. Coffee is a perennial evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus Rubiaceae. There are many species, including small seed species, medium grain species, large grain species and Ethel sa species, among which the small grain coffee species known as "fragrant coffee" have the highest yield, accounting for more than 80% of the total coffee output. Coffee originated in tropical Africa. Since the 15th century, coffee has gradually spread to all parts of the world. At present, coffee is grown in more than 70 countries and regions in the world.

Coffee cultivation in China is concentrated in Yunnan and Hainan provinces. Yunnan has a large output, with an annual output of about 26000 tons in recent years, accounting for 90 per cent of the national output. It is said that Yunnan coffee came from the French 70 or 80 years ago. The main variety is Arabica Arabica, that is, the so-called small seed coffee, commonly known as Yunnan small grain coffee. Yunnan's high-quality geographical and climatic conditions provide good conditions for coffee growth. The planting areas are Lincang, Baoshan, Simao, Xishuangbanna, Dehong and other prefectures. The natural conditions of Yunnan are very similar to those of Colombia, that is, low latitude, high altitude and large temperature difference between day and night. The small grain coffee produced is mellow by cup quality analysis, and its quality and taste is similar to that of Colombian coffee.

However, due to a variety of reasons, the development of Yunnan coffee industry is not fast. Yunnan coffee is mainly exported as raw materials, with an export volume of about 15000 tons in 2006. More than 60% of raw materials are acquired by Nestl é and Maxwell each year, and Starbucks and Amway have joined in recent years.

Due to the lack of deep processing and marketing, Yunnan coffee is not well-known and unrecognized by people locked in the mountains. It is believed that with the in-depth development of Yunnan coffee industry, the rising demand of domestic coffee market and the efforts of the government and enterprises, Yunnan coffee will usher in a new period of development.