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26-407: Coffea robusta L.Linden Coffea canephora (especially C. canephora var. robusta , so predominantly cultivated that it is often simply termed Coffea robusta , or commonly robusta coffee ) is a species of coffee plant that has its origins in central and western sub-Saharan Africa . It is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae . Though widely known as Coffea robusta ,
52-553: A toxic substance that protects against insects and other pests, a form of natural plant defense against herbivory . Caffeine simultaneously attracts pollinators , specifically honeybees, by creating an olfactory memory that signals bees to return to the plant's flowers. Not all Coffea species contain caffeine, and the earliest species had little or no caffeine content. Caffeine has evolved independently in multiple lineages of Coffea in Africa, perhaps in response to high pest predation in
78-425: A more woody and less fruity flavor compared to C. arabica beans. Most of it is used for instant coffee . Robusta is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae . Though widely known by the synonym Coffea robusta , the plant is currently scientifically identified as Coffea canephora , which has two main varieties, C. c. robusta and C. c. nganda . The plant has a shallow root system and grows as
104-633: A robust tree or shrub to about 10 metres (30 feet) tall. It flowers irregularly, taking about 10—11 months for the berries to ripen, producing oval-shaped beans. The robusta plant has a greater crop yield than that of arabica, contains more caffeine (2.7% compared to arabica's 1.5%), and contains less sugar (3—7% compared to arabica's 6—9%). As it is less susceptible to pests and disease, robusta needs much less herbicide and pesticide than arabica. C. canephora grows indigenously in Western and Central Africa from Liberia to Tanzania and south to Angola . It
130-412: A stimulant, diuretic, antioxidant, antipyretic and relieves spasmodic asthma. Coffee plant Coffea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae . Coffea species are shrubs or small trees native to tropical and southern Africa and tropical Asia . The seeds of some species, called coffee beans , are used to flavor various beverages and products. The fruits, like
156-411: A variety of alkylpyrazines are flavor and aroma compounds found in baked and roasted goods. Tetramethylpyrazine (also known as ligustrazine) is reported to scavenge superoxide anions and decrease nitric oxide production in human granulocytes . Many methods exist for the organic synthesis of pyrazine and its derivatives. Some of these are among the oldest synthesis reactions still in use. In
182-437: Is C. arabica . Since Robusta is easier to care for and has a greater crop yield than C. arabica , it is cheaper to produce. Roasted robusta beans produce a strong, full-bodied coffee with a distinctive earthy flavour, but usually with more bitterness than arabica due to its pyrazine content. Since arabica beans are believed to have smoother taste with more acidity and a richer flavour, they are often considered superior, while
208-435: Is often referred to as a " coffee cherry ", and it contains two seeds, called " coffee beans ". Despite these terms, coffee is neither a true cherry (the fruit of certain species in the genus Prunus ) nor a true bean (seeds from plants in the family Fabaceae ). In any coffee crop, about 5–10% of fruits contain only a single bean. Called a peaberry , it is smaller and rounder than a normal coffee bean. When grown in
234-460: The Coffea canephora plant has low acidity and high bitterness, often with a distinct woody and nutty taste. C. canephora beans, widely known by the synonym Coffea robusta , are used primarily in instant coffee , espresso , and as a filler in ground coffee blends. Robusta has its origins in central and western sub-Saharan Africa . It is easy to care for, has a greater crop yield , has almost double
260-661: The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew , named seven from the mountains of northern Madagascar , including C. ambongensis , C. boinensis , C. labatii , C. pterocarpa , C. bissetiae , and C. namorokensis . In 2008, two new species were discovered in Cameroon : Coffea charrieriana , which is caffeine-free, and Coffea anthonyi . By crossing the new species with other known coffees, two new features might be introduced to cultivated coffee plants: beans without caffeine and self-pollination . In 2011, Coffea absorbed
286-426: The conilon variety is widely grown. In recent years, Vietnam, which produces mostly robusta, has become the world's largest exporter of robusta coffee, accounting for over 40% of the total production. It surpasses Brazil (25% of the world's production), Indonesia (13%), India (5%), and Uganda (5%). Brazil is still the biggest coffee producer in the world, producing one-third of the world's coffee, though 69% of that
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#1732852299981312-454: The World Online includes: Pyrazine Pyrazine is a heterocyclic aromatic organic compound with the chemical formula C 4 H 4 N 2 . It is a symmetrical molecule with point group D 2h . Pyrazine is less basic than pyridine , pyridazine and pyrimidine . It is a "deliquescent crystal or wax-like solid with a pungent, sweet, corn-like, nutty odour" . Pyrazine and
338-554: The amount of caffeine and more antioxidants, and is less susceptible to disease than arabica coffea . It represents 43% of global coffee production, with arabica constituting the remainder except for the 1.5% constituted by coffea liberica . It is mostly grown in Vietnam , where French colonists introduced it in the late 19th century, though it is also grown in India, Africa, and in Brazil , where
364-432: The coffee borer beetle ( Hypothenemus hampei ) and the coffee leafminer ( Leucoptera caffeina ). Coffee is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera ( butterfly and moth ) species, Dalcera abrasa , turnip moth and some members of the genus Endoclita , including E. damor and E. malabaricus . New species of Coffea are still being identified in the 2000s. In 2008 and 2009, researchers from
390-492: The entire genus was published in 2017. In addition to resolving the relationships of Coffea species, this study's results suggest Africa or Asia as the likely ancestral origin of Coffea and point to several independent radiations across Africa, Asia, and the Western Indian Ocean Islands. In 2020, a technique of DNA fingerprinting, or genetic authentication of plant material, was proven effective for coffee. For
416-463: The harsher robusta beans are mostly used as a filler in lower-grade coffee blends. However, the powerful flavour can be desirable in a blend to give it perceived "strength" and "finish", notably in Italian coffee culture . Good-quality robusta beans are used in traditional Italian espresso blends, at about 10–15%, to provide a full-bodied taste and a better foam head (known as crema ). It is also used as
442-527: The humid environments of West-Central Africa. Caffeine has also evolved independently in the more distantly related genera Theobroma ( cacao ) and Camellia ( tea ). This suggests that caffeine production is an adaptive trait in coffee and plant evolution. The fruit and leaves also contain caffeine, and can be used to make coffee cherry tea and coffee-leaf tea . The fruit is also used in many brands of soft drink as well as pre-packaged teas. Several insect pests affect coffee production, including
468-437: The plant is scientifically identified as Coffea canephora , which has two main varieties, robusta and nganda . Coffea robusta represents between 40% and 45% of global coffee production, with Coffea arabica constituting most of the remainder. There are several differences between the composition of coffee beans from C. arabica and C. robusta . Beans from C. robusta tend to have lower acidity, more bitterness, and
494-554: The seeds, contain a large amount of caffeine , and have a distinct sweet taste. The plant ranks as one of the world's most valuable and widely traded commodity crops and is an important export product of several countries, including those in Central and South America, the Caribbean and Africa. The coffee trade relies heavily on two of the over 120 species, Coffea arabica (commonly known simply as "Arabica"), which accounts for 60–80% of
520-408: The study, scientists used DNA extraction and SSR marker analysis. This technique or similar ones may allow for several improvements to coffee production such as improved information for farmers as to the susceptibility of their coffee plants to pests and disease, a professionalized coffee seed system, and transparency and traceability for buyers of green, un-roasted coffee. As of May 2024, Plants of
546-506: The tropics, coffee is a vigorous bush or small tree that usually grows to a height of 3–3.5 m (9.8–11.5 ft). Most commonly cultivated coffee species grow best at high elevations, but do not tolerate freezing temperatures. The Coffea arabica tree grows fruit after three to five years, producing for an average of 50 to 60 years, though up to 100 years is possible. The white flowers are highly scented. The fruit takes about nine months to ripen. The caffeine in coffee beans serves as
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#1732852299981572-495: The twenty species of the former genus Psilanthus due to the morphological and genetic similarities between the two genera. Historically, the two have been considered distinct genera due to differences in the length of the corolla tube and the anther arrangement: Coffea with a short corolla tube and exserted style and anthers; Psilanthus with a long corolla tube and included anthers. However, these characteristics were not present in all species of either respective genus, making
598-480: The two genera overwhelmingly similar in both morphology and genetic sequence. This transfer expanded Coffea from 104 species to 124, and extended its native distribution to tropical Asia and Australasia. The coffee genome was published in 2014, with more than 25,000 genes identified. This revealed that coffee plants make caffeine using a different set of genes from those found in tea , cacao and other such plants. A robust and almost fully resolved phylogeny of
624-498: The world's coffee production, and Coffea canephora (known as " Robusta "), which accounts for about 20–40%. Both coffee species are vulnerable to shifts, caused by climate change, in their growing zones , which are likely to result in a decline in production in some of the most important growing regions. There are over 130 species of Coffea , which is grown from seed. The two most popular are Coffea arabica (commonly known simply as "Arabica"), which accounts for 60–80% of
650-570: The world's coffee production, and Coffea canephora (known as " Robusta "), which accounts for about 20–40%. C. arabica is preferred for its sweeter taste, while C. canephora has a higher caffeine content. C. arabica has its origins in the highlands of Ethiopia and the Boma Plateau of Sudan, and came about as the result of a hybrid between C. canephora and C. eugenioides . The trees produce edible red or purple fruits that are either epigynous berries or indehiscent drupes . The fruit
676-565: Was not recognized as a species of Coffea until 1897, over a hundred years after Coffea arabica . It is also reportedly naturalized in Borneo , French Polynesia , Costa Rica , Nicaragua , Jamaica and the Lesser Antilles . In 1927 a hybrid between robusta and arabica was found in Timor . This strain was subsequently used to breed coffee rust -resistant plants. Coffee made from beans of
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