QUEENSLAND'S home-grown coffee industry continues to brew nicely, according to Australia's oldest coffee plantation owner.
Harvesting is under way at the Mareeba-based Skybury Coffee, which expects to produce about 50 tonnes of its premier single origin Arabica coffee this season.
But it won't be Aussie coffee drinkers who will consume most of the crop.
Skybury Tropical Plantation director Ian MacLaughlin said most of the coffee would be exported, bound for key markets in Europe and Asia.
"The consumption in Europe varies very little from year to year and they are by large the largest consumers of Australian-grown coffee," Mr MacLaughlin said.
"We have, however, over the last 18 months, seen a growing demand for Australian coffee in Asian markets and in particular Singapore."
Like other horticulture exports, Australia's ability to produce a clean product with environmentally sustainable practices has helped draw overseas interest.
"Australian-produced goods have been flagged as better quality and have a cleaner, greener image," Mr MacLaughlin said.
According to Roy Morgan Research, coffee consumption by Australian adults has declined slowly but steadily, from 10.5 cups to 9.2 cups a week in the past decade.
Within that, cafe visits and ownership of coffee-making machines is on the rise.
The research suggests the proportion of Australians aged 18 years and over who went to a cafe for coffee or tea in an average three-month period grew gradually from 54 per cent in the year to December 2009 to 56pc in the year to December 2013. The number of people who own coffee makers has risen sharply from 28pc in 2009 to 36pc in 2013, and Australia's domestic consumption of locally grown coffee appears to be rising.
"We have certainly seen a shift in recent years with greater interest in coffee grown here at home," Mr MacLaughlin said.
Despite the late start to the wet season in north Queensland, which has caused havoc in other coffee-growing countries such as Brazil, Skybury had managed to keep its normal production levels on par with previous years' harvests.
"The late wet season has certainly had an effect in Brazil, with production down around 20pc," he said.
"As a result of this, world prices have risen accordingly."
Mr MacLaughlin said the Mareeba-based plantation was also enjoying a strong season for its bananas and papaya.
