Depending on altitude, geographic form and harvesting method (hand-picked or machine harvest), the coffee trees will be planted close together or more apart.

1. Hand Picking requires 360 degrees access around the tree to enable a greater yield of coffee cherries per tree, and helps to ensure more even ripening. Steep mountain plantations do not allow mechanical harvesting, where hand picking is the only method of cherry removal

2. Machine Harvesting requires the coffee trees to be planted close together forming hedge rows that allows the harvester to travel down during harvest season. While the yield per tree is reduced the method allows more trees to be planted per hectare, resulting in an overall better yield/hectare.