Coffee Plant Trivia Questions

Coffee is native to the highlands of Ethiopia in Africa. It was later spread to Arabia, then globally via trade routes.

Two main species dominate: Arabica and Robusta. There are over 100 coffee species, but these two account for nearly all global production.

Yes, coffee 'beans' are the pit or seed of the coffee cherry. The fruit is removed before the seed is dried and roasted.

Coffee belongs to the Rubiaceae family, which also includes gardenia plants. Mint is in a completely different botanical family.

Caffeine acts as a natural pesticide, paralyzing or killing insects that try to feed on the plant's leaves and fruits.

Coffee is an understory plant that naturally grows in shade. Too much direct sun can stress or kill it; many farms use shade-grown methods.

In ideal tropical climates, coffee plants can have several flowering cycles per year, though the main harvest is usually once annually.

While peak production is around 7-20 years, some coffee trees have been known to thrive for a century or more in ideal conditions.