There are approximately 80 coffee plant species, most of African origin, but the two most commercially important are Arabica and Robusta.
Campetelli Coffee is the result of a sweet harmony in the journey of the senses
COFFEA ARABICA
Coffea Arabica is highly prized and produces coffee rich in aroma with a pleasant acidity. Three varieties originate from Yemen: Arabica, Bourbon, and Mokka. Although these three ancient varieties are less productive than modern hybrids, coffee tasters around the world recognize them as plants that produce highly aromatic beans in the cup, and they remain the most sought-after to this day.
COFFEA CANEPHORA
Coffea Canephora var. Robusta is a highly productive plant with great resistance to diseases. Robusta has larger, more elongated leaves compared to Arabica, and its fruits grow in clusters. One of the oldest commercially cultivated varieties is Kouilou, which grows naturally in Ivory Coast, Congo, and Gabon, and is known as Conillon in Brazil.
ORIGINS
In the photo, coffee cherries from the Yirga Chefe region in Ethiopia.
Robusta has fewer known varieties compared to Arabica. In its regions of origin, several varieties have been identified, sometimes cultivated locally, such as Maclaudi in Guinea and Ivory Coast, or Kibale and Budongo in Uganda. At the end of the 19th century in Brazil, a natural hybridization occurred at a research station between Typica plants from the Indonesian island of Sumatra and some Red Bourbon plants. This hybridization gave rise to a highly productive and vigorous cultivar known as Mundo Novo. From a mutation of Bourbon observed in 1935 in Brazil, the Caturra variety was developed—a shorter, more compact plant with more numerous leaves and fruits, although smaller in size. This variety has served as the foundation for many of the new hybrids developed in recent years to improve crop productivity.
GROWTH AND MORPHOLOGY
In the photo, a one-year-old Arabica seedling from Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The Caturra variety, known for its disease resistance and compact growth, can be planted at high density. Other cultivars from Brazil include Acaiá and the famous Maragogype, which produces the largest beans among all known varieties. When left to grow naturally, the plant can reach up to 10 meters in height. However, in cultivation, it is pruned to a maximum height of 3 meters to facilitate fruit harvesting. Planting is carried out using selected beans. After the first flowering, the reproductive cycle begins. Flowering can occur one or more times a year, depending on climatic conditions and soil quality. The flowers are white, grouped in twos or threes, and have an intense fragrance.
