Originally, coffee farming was done in the shade of trees that provided a habitat for many animals and insects.

This method is commonly referred to as the traditional shaded method, or "shade-grown". Starting in the 1970s, many farmers switched their production method to sun cultivation, in which coffee is grown in rows under full sun with little or no forest canopy. This causes berries to ripen more rapidly and bushes to produce higher yields, but requires the clearing of trees and increased use of fertilizer and pesticides, which damage the environment and cause health problems.

The American Birding Association, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center,

Another issue concerning coffee is its use of water. It takes about 140 liters (37 U.S. gal) of water to grow the coffee beans needed to produce one cup of coffee, and coffee is often grown in countries where there is a water shortage, such as Ethiopia.

Used coffee grounds may be used for composting or as a mulch. They are especially appreciated by worms and acid-loving plants such as blueberries.

Climate change may significantly impact coffee yields during the 21st century, 

such as in Nicaragua and Ethiopia which could lose more than half of the farming land suitable for growing (Arabica) coffee.

In 2017, world production of green coffee beans was 9.2 million tonnes, led by Brazil with 29% of the total (table).Vietnam, Colombia, and Indonesia were other major producers.

Then they are sorted by ripeness and color, and most often the flesh of the berry is removed, usually by machine, and the seeds are fermented to remove the slimy layer of mucilage still present on the seed. When the fermentation is finished, the seeds are washed with large quantities of fresh water to remove the fermentation residue, which generates massive amounts of coffee wastewater. Finally, the seeds are dried.