71 Coffee Plant Facts: Cultivation, Types, Characteristics And More

Sridevi Tolety
Jan 16, 2023 By Sridevi Tolety
Originally Published on Jan 17, 2022
Fact-checked by Shruti Thapa
Source of coffee is the coffee bean
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 5.4 Min

Brazil is the country with the largest coffee production in South America. As coffee is a widely produced commodity, it maintains a good value in the market.

The coffee plant originated in Sudan and Ethiopia. Some of the world's coffee production is found in the countries of Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Colombia, Peru, India, Honduras, and Ethiopia. The coffee fruit is known as a coffee cherry and stone fruit, and it contains two seeds called coffee beans.

If you like reading this article, check out our other articles on coffee plant facts and cacao plant facts here on Kidadl.

Facts About The Coffee Plant

The source of coffee is the coffee bean, which is a seed of the coffee plant. A coffee plant is a group of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae.

The coffee plant is a largely traded commodity crop, and it is a widely exported product in many countries, including central and South America, the Caribbean, and Africa. It grows best in a slightly warmer temperature.

The coffee plant takes three to five years to produce flowers and cherries. Seeds are taken from the coffee fruit, and a strained drink called coffee is prepared from roasted coffee beans.

A coffee bean with water removed makes instant coffee. Arabica coffee beans are found in areas of high altitudes, and they have a sweeter and softer taste.

After oil, coffee is the second most valued international commercial commodity. The coffee industry has been growing and is getting standardized.

Coffee flowers are fragrant to attract insects for pollination, and you get coffee beans when flowers fall from the plant, and then coffee cherries will grow in their place.

The plant's color changes from dark green to bright red. The coffee plant is a shrub, and it grows with one particular stem, but coffee plants produce a bunch of creamy white flowers and a fruit called a berry that possesses two seeds.

Did you know that the most popular types of coffee are Arabica and Robusta? Coffee may also be called Robusta coffee or Arabian coffee. The name Arabica was given to this coffee plant after the plant crossed the red sea from Ethiopia to lower Arabia and Yemen. The fragrance of coffee while roasting is due to caffeoyl oil.

Did you know caffeine in coffee beans is used as a toxic substance to protect the plant's seeds? Coffee beans are seeds of some coffee species that are used to give taste to various beverages and products.

The fruits contain a large volume of caffeine and have a distinguishable, sweet taste. The fruits are used in instant coffee. The coffee plant is rich in nitrogen and is good for acid-loving plants as the nitrogen acts as a mild fertilizer for these plants.

Different Types Of Coffee

A good cup of coffee is flavorful and aromatic, with the right amount of acidity and sweetness. Nut flavors and chocolate, as well as fruity and floral aromas, are present in different kinds of coffees.

The different types of coffee beans are Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa. Arabica is commercialized in North America. It has a soft flavor and its coffee is acidic.

Coffee Robusta often has flavors like chocolate and rum. Liberica coffee beans are grown in southeast Asia.

Affogato is more than just a coffee: it is a dessert made of a single or double blast of espresso served with just the right level of a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Irish coffee is more commonly found in restaurants rather than in cafes because Irish coffee contains alcohol.

This coffee is steeped with sugar whiskey. A piccolo latte is served with a shot of espresso in a cup with milk and a tiny portion of foam.

Mocha is one of the sweeter kinds of coffee. It contains espresso mixed with a spoonful of chocolate powder; steamed milk is added on top with foam, and some chocolate powder is sprinkled on top.

A caffe latte is served with steamed milk and espresso foam. It has a sweet flavor.

A cappuccino is similar to a latte, and the main difference is it has more foam. A ristretto is known to be a more concentrated version of espresso, and it is prepared with half the amount of water. A macchiato is prepared with espresso, steamed milk, and foam on top.

An iced coffee is served with a dash of milk, cream, or sweetener. Liberica coffee beans are known for light and dark roast coffees, which do not have a fruitier flavor.

Ideal Conditions For Growing A Coffee Plant

Coffee trees and plants grow in a wide range of soils. They are small bushes that are native to tropical Asia and southern Africa.

Coffee seeds are usually soaked in water to get sufficient moisture before being planted in a nursery. These seeds are covered and spread in the sand to keep them moist and then are generally grown in deep, well-drained loam.

Coffee trees need both sun and rain. The area where coffee grows should have soil that is rich and moist. It's important to water regularly to keep the soil moist.

The optimal circumstances for growing coffee plants are those found on a tropical, mid-elevation mountainside, where water is abundant with adequate drainage, high humidity, moderate temperatures, and rich, slightly acidic soil. Excess moisture causes the development of parasites and fungus. This plant is mostly grown in higher altitudes and also easily adapts to rain forests.

Coffee plants bloom after heavy rainfall and after the budding of flowers. In Colombia, flowers bloom twice a year. Coffee plants grow well when planted in rows and spaced 9.8 ft (3 m) apart. A coffee plant can live up to 100 years.

The coffee plant is a largely traded commodity crop

The Morphology Of A Coffee Plant

People all over the world drink coffee. Did you know that coffee aficionado, coffee addicts or coffeeholics are some names given to coffee lovers?

Coffee plants grow up to 16 ft (5 m) when they are not trimmed. The coffee plant is an evergreen bush. Coffee plant leaves are smooth and somewhat circular in shape. Coffee plants have white blooms.

Fruits are yellow in color and turning to a deep red color when they ripen. A coffee seed is green-colored when it is taken out from the plant. It contains fleshy, soft skin covering the plant.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 71 coffee plant facts then why not take a look at Bulrush plant facts or Eucalyptus plant facts.

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Written by Sridevi Tolety

Bachelor of Science specializing in Botany, Master of Science specializing in Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs

Sridevi Tolety picture

Sridevi ToletyBachelor of Science specializing in Botany, Master of Science specializing in Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs

With a Master's degree in clinical research from Manipal University and a PG Diploma in journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Sridevi has cultivated her passion for writing across various domains. She has authored a wide range of articles, blogs, travelogues, creative content, and short stories that have been published in leading magazines, newspapers, and websites. Sridevi is fluent in four languages and enjoys spending her spare time with loved ones. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, cooking, painting, and listening to music.

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Fact-checked by Shruti Thapa

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English

Shruti Thapa picture

Shruti ThapaBachelor of Arts specializing in English

With a passion for American, British, and children's literature, Shruti is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree at Garden City University, Bengaluru. Her fluency in Nepali, Hindi, and Mandarin demonstrates her linguistic abilities and global perspective. In addition to her literary pursuits, she has a keen interest in non-fiction literature, aesthetics, early childhood education, and Egyptian history. Shruti's research paper 'Bringing Art Illustrations In Education And Pop Culture' showcases her proficiency in these areas and her dedication to academic excellence.

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