Plant

Coffee is a tropical plant requiring a mean temperature of 19 to 25°C. It thrives in a moist environment and requires an annual rainfall of 1500 mm. Most commercial coffee plantations are located near the equator at an altitude of 300 to 2000 meters.

The coffee plant originated in Africa. There are three species of coffee, and each species has many varieties. Coffee varieties are a result of both natural mutations and genetic engineering.

The three species of coffee are Coffea arabica, Coffea robusta, and Coffea liberica. Only Arabica and Robusta have commercial value in the coffee trade, with Arabica making up three quarters of the world's production of coffee.

In the wild, coffee trees can grow to a height of 7 to 10 meters. Cultivated coffee trees, however, are kept at a height of 2 to 4 meters to aid in harvesting the beans and caring for the plants.

The coffee plant has one or more main trunks from which the primary branches grow. Secondary branches, stemming from the primary branches, are the only part of the coffee plant which will re-grow if damaged.

The leaves of the coffee plant grow in pairs and are long and oval-shaped. They have a deep green color and are shiny on the upper side. The coffee plant has white flowers growing in clusters of two or three. The flowers appear for a very brief time - usually about two or three days, and have a strong, agreeable aroma.

The coffee plant first flowers at the age of two to four years. Coffee can begin to be harvested when the tree is five years old, and remains productive for the next 20 years. At the age of 25, the tree is considered to be old, but it may continue living for another 75 years.

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