Coffee trees are evergreen, fruit bearing shrubs that can grow ashigh as 20 feet if not pruned. As a shrub that bears fruit, it can only survive and produce the coffee "fruit" in climates that are consistently 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. This growing region, the "coffee belt", is between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer (approximately 25 degrees North and South of the Equator at altitudes between sea level and 6,000 feet. This geographical belt also provides coffee with its necessary 60-80 inches of rainfall annually.

The coffee "bean" is more accurately the seed of the tree's fruit. Development of this seed into a flavorful "bean" begins when jasmine scented white flowers form on the tree. These flowers last about 3 days and then develop into the fruit. In the coming 6 to 9 months, the tree's fruit (referred in the trade as the cherry) fully matures. During this development, the cherry changes color from green, to yellow, to deep ripe red, signaling its readiness for harvest.

The more flavorful Arabica coffee trees can grow at higher elevations than other species of coffee such as Robusta coffee trees. Growing at higher altitude has the effect of slowing the maturation of the seeds and allowing the coffee bean to develop more flavors. Arabica trees or shrubs provide quality beans for about 25 years before requiring replanting. The average coffee plantation maintains about 1200 trees per acre.

Factoid: Exposure to Sun/Shade.
There is quite a bit of misinformation brewing about shade grown coffee. All coffee trees need a certain amount of sun and shade to thrive due to the tree's specific range of climate requirements. The balance of sun and shade are important aspects of growth requirements. Sunlight is obviously required for a coffee plant to grow. However, it must be controlled, either by nature or by humans. Too much sunlight speeds up the maturation of the bean, keeping it from developing flavor.

 

 

Harvesting Coffee