Espresso plant: self-brewed caffeinated cultivation

Who says coffee has to be limited to cafes, break rooms and morning commutes? In this article we present a new place where you can fix your caffeine – the garden! That's right, no matter where you live, you can grow your own coffee plant.

Growing coffee trees is an exciting endeavor that will definitely be discussed. Aside from caffeine, the plant is so beautiful that it often grows decorative in landscapes and as a houseplant. It has glossy, dark green leaves and tufts of white flowers that smell of jasmine. The flowers remain for only a few days, but are replaced by bright red, grape-like berries.

Unfortunately, a tree may not give you enough coffee beans to brew a pot. However, you can roast them, use them in recipes, and even turn them into ground coffee compost. The benefits of growing your own coffee beans really have no end.

This post is sponsored by Fast growing trees, a source of quality for coffee plants and many other types.

Get a coffee plant

Good products for growing coffee at home:

Brief instructions on care

The coffee plant is surprisingly easy to grow at home. Source: Macguys

Everything about coffee tree

You may be surprised to hear that coffee beans are not beans at all – they are seeds! They grow in bright red berries, commonly known as coffee cherries. The berry itself is edible, but not nearly as valuable as the caffeinated treasure inside.

Coffee plants are called trees, but actually grow like shrubs. They bloom in May and June and can be harvested from September to March (depending on the location). There is usually only one harvest a year, but it takes 2-3 months.

Coffee trees come from tropical Africa, where they are still grown commercially. In the United States, it can grow outdoors in zones 10-11. It thrives quite well as a houseplant in colder regions. In summer you can even go outside.

The coffee plant not only keeps half of the world awake, it also offers agricultural jobs to 100 million people around the world. Coffee is an important part of the Ethiopian economy. It also plays an important role in agriculture in Latin America and Africa. In fact, after tea, it is one of the most popular drinks in the world.

Unfortunately, 60% of all types of coffee are threatened with extinction, including Coffea arabica (the most popular). This is caused by climate change, deforestation and the spread of pests and diseases. Some species may already be extinct.

Types of coffee plants

There are 124 known types of coffee, but we only get our daily fix from two: Arabica and Robusta.

Coffea arabica is the most popular and highest quality brew. It is used in most types of coffee and as an aroma for desserts and other beverages. The jar of classic roast in your pantry is probably Arabica coffee.

Coffea arabica is native to Ethiopia, but has been grown widely in Arabia for over 1000 years. It grows up to 20 feet tall, but can be held 6 feet indoors. This plant is self-pollinating and produces large, elliptically shaped seeds.

Coffea canephora var. Robusta is like the off-brand version of Arabica. It's a lot cheaper, but a lot more bitter. This variety is much easier to grow and is therefore produced for economic purposes. The tree naturally grows to 40 feet tall and prefers warmer temperatures than Coffea arabica. The small, round seeds require cross-fertilization to grow.

The Robusta coffee bean contains almost twice as much caffeine as Arabica. Since caffeine has developed as a defense mechanism against insects, the plant is very resistant to pests. Unfortunately, caffeine is also what makes the bean taste bitter, which explains why this variety is not so popular. It is often used in instant coffee, espresso or as a filler in blends.

Plant coffee

A young coffee plant growing in a botanical garden. Source: Voice of Objective Truth

The best things take work and coffee is no exception. The coffee planting process is detailed, but the end result is a beautiful plant.

When to plant

The growing season for coffee plants lasts from April to August. We recommend planting the seedlings just before this season so that they have time to settle in.

Finding seedlings or seeds from coffee plants can be a hit or miss in stores, so you may need to order online. Take enough time to shop before you plant.

Where to plant

If you live in the tropics or zones 10-11, you are welcome to plant this tree outdoors. Start the seeds indoors and then transplant them if they have firm roots. Plant starts can go straight into the ground.

Remember that these are large shrubs that take up a lot of vertical space. Place them at least 3 feet from the surrounding plants. Choose a place that is in partial shade for most of the day, especially in the afternoon.

Houseplants are 4 to 6 inches tall, so you need to make some space. You will love winter gardens, but will also thrive in sunny windows. In summer you can treat your plant to an outdoor trip – in the shade, of course!

How to plant

If you buy coffee plant seedlings, they can be delivered with multiple seedlings in a single container. You need to soak the soil and carefully divide the plants. Once separated, plant each in a separate container or spot in the garden. Use fertile, well-drained soil and keep it evenly moist as the seedlings settle.

Fertilize 3-4 times a year in the first few years of the plant. Enlarge the pot every spring if necessary. Keep the container size in relation to the tree size, since too much empty soil only collects water and drowns the roots. You can expect your new coffee plant to start blooming in 3-5 years.

How to care for coffee plants

Coffee flowers and very unripe berries. Source: Crashworks

The taste of coffee is strongly influenced by the conditions under which the plant is grown. So if you want the best quality beans and a lively tree, you need to take special care of the coffee plants.

Sun and temperature

Outdoors, coffee plants need partial shade. You can't deal with direct sun and heat that can burn the leaves. However, houseplants should be placed through a sunny window. South windows are ideal because they receive the most sunlight.

Since these are tropical plants, the temperature must be warm, but not hot. 60-80 ° F is ideal. Temperatures below 55 ° F can lead to leaf waste and frost can be fatal. Plant coffee trees where they are protected from the cold wind, like on the south side of a wall.

Water and moisture

Always keep the soil moist by watering it when it starts to dry out. Depending on your location, you will likely water twice a week. Water much less in winter to promote flowering in spring.

Avoid over-watering or leave the roots in the water. It is easy to see if the plant needs more water as it wilts and recovers easily. However, do not rely on this method, otherwise you will put unnecessary strain on the plant.

A high level of humidity is absolutely necessary for this tropical tree. This shouldn't be a problem in tropical areas or on the coast. However, if your plant lives indoors, keep it away from heating slits that are extremely dry. Use a hygrometer to closely monitor the humidity in your home.

The easiest way to increase the humidity in a dry room is to use a pebble shell. Find a tray or saucer larger than the bottom of the pot and fill it with stones. Place the pot on top and fill the tray with water just below the rock. The water evaporates around the plant and increases the internal moisture cycle. Just make sure the water stays under the rocks so the bottom doesn't drink it.

ground

Coffee plants are heavy feed and therefore need rich, fertile soils. Before planting, feel free to prepare the growth medium with organic compost. You also need to make sure that it doesn't cling to the water. Add some sand or perlite if necessary so that it flows off well and is still loamy. Mulch can be added for weed control and moisture control.

For best results, the soil must be slightly acidic and have a pH between 4 and 7 (ideally 6 to 6.5). You can easily increase the acidity by adding sulfur or peat moss. Always check the pH before changing it. This can be done with a home floor test kit.

Fertilize

Feed your coffee plant at least a few times during the spring and summer growing season. This tree needs a nitrogen rich fertilizer. Rose and citrus fertilizers are ideal for keeping your coffee plant healthy. You can also fertilize with coffee grounds as this contains exactly the nutrients that the tree needs!

Coffee is also hungry for micronutrients. Magnesium, sulfur, iron, zinc, calcium and boron are all important for plant development. When choosing a fertilizer, choose one that contains at least small amounts of it and the normal NPK.

clipping

Coffee trees on a commercial coffee plantation. Source: Coffee management

Around the world, coffee plants are usually pruned to 6 feet or less to make harvesting easier. Keeping the trees so small, however, requires a lot of work. You need to prune at least once a year and definitely more if your tree grows inside.

Coffee plants can be pruned all year round, but the beginning of spring is best so that the plant is ready for the growing season. Don't be afraid to prune it heavily as this shrub is quite long-lived (however, do not prune more than half of the tree).

A good rule of thumb is to prune the secondary and tertiary branches while leaving the primary ones alone. Since this is a shrub, it is quite malleable. You can prune the lower branches to encourage high growth. If bushy is your goal, keep the top trimmed to send more energy to the lower branches.

Propagation

The most popular method of propagation is Grow coffee from seeds. The key is getting the right type of seeds and germinating them properly. You need fresh, green coffee beans (not roasted). They have to be removed from the coffee fruits and rinsed. Collect something from a friend's tree or order green seeds online. A number of varieties are available from retailers. Ask for seeds that are as fresh as possible. They are viable for four months, but the older they are, the less likely they will germinate.

Once you have acquired your seeds, soak them in water for 24 hours. Then place them in damp but drained sand or vermiculite. Keep the seeds here until they germinate. When these baby plants stick out, carefully remove the sprouted seeds and plant them an inch deep in fertile, well-drained soil (flat side down). Keep it vigilantly moist until seedlings appear.

If seeds are just not your thing, you can grow coffee plants Cuttings. The process is pretty standard. Choose a healthy, ripe branch that has leaves but no fruits or flowers. Use a sharp knife to make a diagonal cut 4 to 5 inches from the top.

Remove the leaves in the lower third of the cut. The nodes from which you took them grow new roots, while the remaining leaves collect sunlight above. Dip the end of the cut in root hormone to increase the chances of growth.

Plant a little less than a third of the cut in well-drained soil (peat moss and perlite work great). Give him a good drink and cover the container with a clear dome like a ziplock bag. Keep the cut indoors in a warm, sunny place and keep the floor evenly moist.

As soon as you see new leaves growing on the branch, remove the dome. If the roots are firm and the cut is actively growing, you can repot it or even plant it outdoors. It usually takes 2-3 months for the cut to become a full coffee plant.

Harvest and store coffee berries

Coffee cherries that gradually ripen on the plant. Source: colleen_taugher

After all the care of the coffee plants, we are finally at the most expected part – harvesting this delicious coffee. It's a long process, but an experience that real coffee lovers will appreciate.

harvest

You may not get a large crop from your coffee plant, especially if it grows indoors. The fertility of your plant depends on its exact care and maturity. A plant may not give you enough beans to make an entire pot of coffee. You should get enough to roast or even prepare a dessert like chocolate-covered espresso beans.

When the cherries are ripe, they turn dark red. They don't fall off the tree, so you have to pick them by hand. Pick only berries from a disease-free plant and start processing as soon as possible so that the fruits do not spoil.

The berry itself is edible and resembles a grape. If you want to eat it, remove the seed by cutting the cherry open with a knife. Otherwise, you can extract the seed by soaking the cherry in water overnight and then squeezing it out. If you have a large harvest, you can put the seeds on the concrete and crush them with a board. Now that you have your green seeds, you can plant them to grow coffee again or get them ready to eat.

storage

roast meat The seeds are a long but rewarding process. The outside of the bean is covered with parenchyma, a soft tissue. To remove it, you need to ferment the beans. Fermentation is when microorganisms, in this case enzymes, break down the chemical structure of an organism. It sounds difficult, but all you have to do is soak the bean in water for 12-48 hours and the enzymes do the rest. The parenchyma has a slimy texture. Soak these seeds until they feel rough. Discard any seeds that float in the water.

Rinse the seeds and let them dry in the sun. If you want to store the beans instead of roasting them immediately, let them dry for a few days. Otherwise, wait until they feel dry.

The now dry seeds have an outer layer of brown parchment that can be easily removed by hand. Once that's done, it's time to fry! Fry them in a pan over medium heat, stirring constantly. When they're roasted enough to eat, they make a cracking sound. The longer you roast them, the darker they become. If you hear a second crack, take them out of the pan before they become inedible. Once cooled, you can grind and brew, or just eat your local beans!

Store your roasted coffee beans in an airtight container that is kept in a cool and dry place. They last for months, but use them within a month for the best taste. Freeze They will be extended to 3-6 months quality in this airtight container this month (freezing can change the taste).

Coffee cherries can be stored through long term dry She. Spread them on a pan and put them in the sun for a few weeks. Then make sure to turn occasionally so that they dry evenly. After drying completely, the skin hardens. Cascate tea can be made from the skin.

Troubleshooting

Visible signs of pest and disease damage to coffee leaves. Source: shstern

Prevention is, as always, the most important part of the care of coffee plants. In this section, we'll look at the symptoms to look out for and how to deal with them.

Growing problems

Humidity is extremely important when growing and planting coffee, so you need to monitor it closely. If the leaf tips turn brown and look as if they are drying out, they will most likely need more moisture. Place the container on a stone and water bowl or remove it from the heating slots. The damage can be permanent, so it's best to keep the room moist first.
If the tan is not limited to the tips of the leaves and has spots, your plant may get sunburned. Immediately move it away from direct sun and heat. Also check that the plant has enough water as it dries out quickly due to heat.

Pests

If you have a robusta plant, you don't have to worry much about pests (thanks caffeine!). However, when it comes to the Coffea arabica houseplant, you need to look out for these insects.

Nematodes are one of the most dangerous pests in a coffee plant. These coarse worms usually attack the roots and cause root knots. Other symptoms include yellowed leaves, wilting, and decreased fruit production. To prevent nematodes from appearing, remove the soil from old roots before planting and regularly add organic matter. Remove existing populations by introducing useful nematodes to defend your plants.

When growing coffee, you need to be on the lookout Mealybugs. As a small pest, these small white insects feed on plant sap and leave behind cotton residues. The affected plant will wither, lose color and eventually die. As if that wasn't bad enough, they also attract ants.

Get rid of these guys by dabbing them with alcohol. For larger populations, apply insecticide soap or mycoinsecticide to the coffee plant. The easiest way, of course, is to prevent the whole ordeal by not pouring neem oil on and applying it. It is also beneficial to control ant populations as they have a symbiotic relationship with the mealybugs.

Diseases

Coffee leaf grate looks exactly what it sounds like. It shows up as rusty-looking spots on the leaves and eventually causes defoliation. This fungus is spread by fungal spores in the wind and rain, so you are unlikely to find it if you grow indoors. Prevent and control it outdoors by spraying the tree with copper fungicide.

If the cherries on your tree have dark, rotting spots, you could take a look at this Coffee berry disease. This is a mushroom that comes from the tree bark and spreads to the berries through spores. Usually the berries fall off at the time of infection. Prevent and treat this disease with copper fungicide.

Bacterial rot is caused by a constantly cold and humid environment. It makes dark, damp spots on the leaves and eventually causes cancer and damages the plant's vascular system. This disease is fatal to coffee plants. Multiple uses of copper fungicide usually combat bacterial blight.

frequently asked Questions

Q: Is coffee a tree or a bush?

A: Technically, it's a shrub. You can prune and grow coffee plants like a tree, or keep them small and bushy.

Q: Do coffee plants smell like coffee?

A: No, this delicious smell comes from roasting the coffee beans. However, the flowers should smell of jasmine!

Q: How long do coffee plants live?

A: They can live up to 100 years, but are most productive at 5 to 20 years.

Q: Is coffee tree toxic?

A: The fruit is edible, but the rest of the tree is toxic to humans and animals.

The green thumbs behind this article:
Rachel Garcia
Juicy fanatic
Lorin Nielsen
Lifetime gardener