Coffee Plant
A Comprehensive Gluttonous Gardener Plant Care Guide
Get ready to savour the satisfaction of cultivating a prized and flavourful coffee bean from seed to cup!
Did you know that over 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed every year? It’s one of the world’s most popular drinks, and it’s all down to the unassuming little seeds of the coffee plant. When the seeds are roasted and ground, they turn into the energising and unmistakable brew that coffee fans everywhere know and love.
Coffea Arabica, the darling of coffee aficionados, hails from the misty hills of Ethiopia, where a serendipitous discovery by a goat herder sparked its journey. Renowned for its nuanced flavours, the Arabica bean offers a symphony of tastes, from floral and fruity to nutty and chocolatey. Thriving at higher altitudes and cooler temperatures, it usually finds a home in the lush landscapes of Colombia, Ethiopia, and beyond, but we’ll let you into a little secret: you can also grow your very own coffee plant indoors in the UK.
Coffea Arabica is a small, evergreen tree which will grow to between 2-8m tall. It boasts glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers in the summer that give way to vibrant red cherry-like fruits in autumn. Each fruit contains two coveted green seeds, commonly known as beans, which turn into a more recognisable brown hue after roasting. Coffea Arabica trees grow quickly and should begin to fruit when they are aged around three. They will be in full bearing after five years, and can continue providing fruit for another fifty years, so you have plenty of homegrown coffee to look forward to!
In a nutshell
Indoor
Happy in a pot
Evergreen
Greenhouse
Care Instructions
Planting
Remove the coir circle from around the base of the plant as soon as it arrives and water well. The perfect position for your coffee plant is in a conservatory, greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill. The ideal temperature range is 18-21C, but it can endure temperatures up to 29 degrees.
Watering
Water plentifully during spring and early summer, and sparingly throughout the winter. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, allowing the top inch to dry between watering, and re-pot into a larger pot every year. Use well-draining soil and a pot with drainage holes to prevent root rot. Humidity is crucial, so mist the plant regularly or place a tray of water nearby.
Feeding
Fertilize monthly during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer.
Pruning
Coffee plants can grow up to 3m, but their height can be curbed by pinching out tips, which will also help to create a bushier plant. Begin by removing any dead branches, then trim back unruly growth to encourage a well-shaped structure. Pay attention to the plant’s natural growth pattern, cutting at a 45-degree angle just above a bud or leaf node. Regular pruning, preferably during the plant’s dormant season, stimulates new growth and ensures the plant channels its energy efficiently. This meticulous approach helps the plant thrive, producing optimal yields of flavourful beans.
Harvest
Your coffee plant will display fragrant white flowers in the summer, followed by clusters of green cherry-like fruit in the autumn, which move through shades of green and golden brown, then turn bright red when fully ripe. Each fruit contains two green seeds, known commonly as coffee beans.
When you have enough beans for your first home-grown pot, place them in a perforated container in a preheated 120c oven. After seven minutes, increase the heat to 230c and prepare for some smoke! Within 10 minutes the beans should ‘crackle’ Stir to encourage an even roast. Remove the beans when they turn a little lighter than the final colour you desire (they will continue roasting even whilst cooling). Once completely cool, store in an airtight container in the fridge or start grinding for your first, long awaited brew! A simple biscuit will make the perfect accompaniment.
