Coffea arabica L.

Bush or tree 2–7 m. tall; young branches glabrous, covered with light brown shiny bark.. Leaf-blades elliptic to broadly elliptic or oblong-elliptic (or lanceolate or round in some cultivated forms), 7–18 cm. long, 3–7.5 cm. wide, distinctly acuminate at apex, acute to obtuse at base, thinly coriaceous to coriaceous, with 7–10 pairs of main lateral nerves, shiny above, margin sometimes undulate; domatia rather inconspicuous, glabrous, occasionally absent from some leaves; stipules triangular, 4–8 mm. long, acute, usually exceeded by a mucro.. Flowers (4–)5(–6)-merous, 2–20 per axil, borne in 1–3(–15) fascicles; peduncle 0.5–2(–3) mm. long in flower (2–4 mm. long in fruit); pedicels 1–2(–3) mm. long (calyces usually well clear of surrounding bracteole); bracteoles frequently with subfoliaceous lobes up to 6 mm. long.. Calyx-tube 1–2 mm. long; limb reduced to a rim or sometimes irregularly toothed; teeth up to 1(–2) mm. long.. Corolla-tube (0.5–)0.9–1.1 cm. long, 2–3 mm. wide at throat; lobes oblong, 0.9–1.6 cm. long, (2–)4–6 mm. wide, rounded.. Fruit red (yellow or purple in cultivated forms), oblong-ellipsoid or sometimes ± subglobose, 1–2 cm. long, 0.9–1.1 cm. wide; pedicel lengthening to 4–8 mm.. Seeds fawn or greenish fawn, 9–1.2(–1.5) cm. long, 6–7 mm. wide.

It is native to NE tropical Africa. A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows best in rich deep soils in a protected partly shaded position. It is drought and frost tender. It cannot stand flooding. It needs a temperature above 10°C. In West Africa it grows between 1,000-2,000 m altitude. In PNG it is mostly between 700-2,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-11. In XTBG Yunnan.

The seeds are used for coffee. The seeds are roasted and then ground to make a drink. Coffee extract is used for flavouring ice cream, candies, pastries, and soft drinks. The roasted seeds are eaten as snacks. The red fruit and leaves are chewed for their stimulant properties. The leaves are used as a tea substitute.

Plants can be grown from seed. They can also be grown from cuttings. Budding and grafting can also be used. Seeds are planted in a nursery, under shade at first. They take 6-24 months before being ready to transplant. Plants are commonly pruned to produce a densely branched shrub, 3 m high. Two kinds of branches occur. The ones which stick upwards do not bear fruit but can produce buds for new branches. The branches which grow sideways then hang over, are the ones which fruit. Normally, only one, or up to four, of the upright branches are kept and others are pruned out.