THE COFFEE

PLANT

RODRIGO H. DILOY
Head, Special Projects Department
NCRDEC, CvSU
Indang, Cavite

….bringing Philippine coffee back to the world market.

 THE COFFEE PLANT
● Coffee is one of the world’s most important crops, given the
higher number of people living directly or indirectly from it.

● This crop is the main source of income for many developing

countries.

● Legend has it that the energizing effect of coffee was first

discovered by a goat. Thousands of years ago in what is now
Ethiopia, an Abyssinian herder noticed that, after his goats ate the
bright red berries of the coffee plant, the animals became quite
energetic. He showed his discovery to some monks at a nearby
monastery, who then brewed the berries into beverage to keep them
awake during evening prayers. Thus, the first cups of coffee were
born. From Ethiopia, coffee spread across Arabia, and eventually
found its way into cups around the world.
  A. GENUS

COFFEA
● A genus of flowering plants whose seeds, called coffee beans, are
used to make coffee.

● It belongs to the Rubiaceae family.

●There are four known varieties of coffee. These are Robusta,

Excelsa, Arabica and Liberica.

● The Philippines is one of the few countries in the world where all
four varieties of coffee are grown on commercial scale.
ROBUSTA

● commonly known as “ kapeng manipis”.

● Its taste is fairly strong with caffeine content of 2% to 2.5% compared to Arabica.

● It is high yielding and more resistant to pests and diseases.

● commonly known in almost all coffee producing provinces of the country.

● It thrives well in areas with elevation ranging from 600 to 1,200 meters above sea
level.

● It is also the main ingredient in the production of instant coffee.

EXCELSA

● known as “kapeng makapal”.

● It has distinct pharmacopical taste. This variety could be

grown in areas with elevation of 600 meters above sea level.

● It is resistant to drought.
 ARABICA

● locally known as “kapeng tagalog”.

● most commonly grown coffee variety in the world because of its excellent flavor and
aroma and for its relatively low caffeine content ranging from 0.8%- 1.3%.

● grown in high elevation of more than 900- 1,800 meters above sea level.

● It thrives well in the mountainous areas in Mindanao and in the Cordillera Mountains of
Luzon.
 LIBERICA

● is locally known as “kapeng barako”.

● characterized for its very strong pharmacopical taste and

flavor, powerful body and distinctively pungent aroma.

● Liberica trees are upright with straight trunks and grow to a

height of about nine meters.

● This variety is more tolerant to drought and can grow to wider

soil types.
 B. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR CULTIVATION OF PHILIPPINE
COFFEE VARIETIES

SPECIES COFFEA COFFEA COFFEA COFFEA

CHARACTER ROBUSTA EXCELSA ARABICA LIBERICA
ECOLOGY Elevation: ranging Elevation: 600- 1000 Elevation: more than Elevation: 600- 1000
from 600 to 1, 200 meters above sea 900- 1,800 meters
meters above sea level; above sea level;
level; temperature: temperature:
between 24 and 30
between 15 and 24
degree C
degrees C

PLANT HEIGHT Trees: large,, Trees: reach 20m Trees: 12 ft. in their Trees: upright with
umbrella-shaped; natural state, straight trunks; grow
10 ft. high; 4.5meters when to a height of about
cultivated nine meters.
 B. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR CULTIVATION OF PHILIPPINE
COFFEE VARIETIES

SPECIES COFFEA COFFEA COFFEA COFFEA

CHARACTER ROBUSTA EXCELSA ARABICA LIBERICA
ROOT SYSTEM shallow Deep root system

INFLORESCENCES cross pollination self pollination

FLOWERS White with five to Large and white with White and creamy White with four to six
six petals four to six petals. with short pedicles. petals

LEAVES Thin which have Wide leaves are Wavy leaf margins, Thicker than Excelsa
more wavy margins. thicker than Robusta light green leaf color and twice as long as
but thinner, smoother and thin leaves. Arabica
and more rounded
than Liberica; young
leaves are usually
shiny with bronze-
violet color.
 B. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR CULTIVATION OF PHILIPPINE
COFFEE VARIETIES

SPECIES COFFEA COFFEA COFFEA COFFEA

CHARACTER ROBUSTA EXCELSA ARABICA LIBERICA

3. FRUITS/BERRIES Bearing of fruits Bearing of fruits starts Oblong in shape, Biggest berries among
commences on its four to five years after measuring about 1.5cm the four varieties which
third year from transplanting; borne in long, green when are borne singly or in
transplanting; borne in heavy cluster, varying in immature and turns red small clusters; berries
heavy cluster; yields size and usually bigger or yellow depending on are dark red when ripe;
1,200kg or more of than Arabica but smaller maturity; this is early its pulp is thick and
clean dry coffee beans than Liberica; its pulp bearer and bear fruits parchment woody;
per hectare;10-11mos and parchment are two to three years after bearing fruits starts four
to ripen; small and thicker than Liberica; transplanting; yields to five years after
roundish. yields approximately 1,000kg of clean dry transplanting; yields
1,000kg of clean dry coffee beans per approximately 500 to
coffee beans per hectare;7-9 months after 1000kg of clean dry
hectare; develop after 8- flowering. coffee beans per
11mos after flowering. hectare.
C. COMPARATIVE FEATURES OF PHILIPPINE COFFEE VARIETIES
C. COMPARATIVE FEATURES OF PHILIPPINE COFFEE VARIETIES