Growing conditions determine harvesting practices. With so many regional microclimates, coffee is being harvested somewhere on the globe throughout most of the year. The main harvesting season is determined by the period of highest rainfall, while the period of least rainfall defines the second harvest season. After the trees begin producing cherries in their fifth or sixth year of growth, coffee is harvested during the dry period that follows a distinct rainy season.

Harvesting can take place one or twice a year for a particular region. If a region has two distinct rainy seasons, such as in Costa Rica, it typically follows that there are two harvest seasons. In places such as Brazil, with only one distinct rainy season, there will only be one harvest per year. Some areas with rain falling somewhat evenly throughout the year; a single coffee shrub may simultaneously produce flowers, immature berries and ripe cherries, requiring a constant schedule of harvesting.

In general, countries to the north of the equator harvest between September and December. Countries to the south of the equator harvest primarily in April or May with some being able to also harvest in August. Countries located along the equator with coffee farms at various altitudes can harvest almost all year long.

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