Home Coffee - Why Not?

Arabian Coffee Plant

We all know the aroma of fresh coffee, many of us can enjoy it several times a day while relaxing. Few people know that we can grow coffee at home, in a pot in our apartment. Arabian coffee plant is an undemanding plant to grow in terms of cultivation and conditions.

Origin of the coffee plant and its legend

Its original homeland is East Africa, specifically Ethiopia and its Kaffa province. The indigenous people knew the effects of coffee and chewed its beans, which helped invigorate their body and soul. One of the well-known legends about coffee dates back to 900 BC. An Abyssinian goat herder noticed that his animals were livelier and more spirited when they grazed on the red fruits of an unknown green shrub. Curiosity led him to taste these fruits himself and he noticed their invigorating effects. He shared his discovery with the abbot of a nearby monastery, who threw the beans into the fire, considering them the devil's influence on man. The delicious and intense aroma that arose from burning the beans forced him to brew a decoction from the remaining beans. Later, during long night meditations, this decoction helped monks ward off fatigue.

At the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, coffee began to spread further into the world - from Yemen it headed to Arabia, where Arabs kept the preparation of this invigorating beverage secret from the world for a long time. In 1516, the first coffee houses were established in Istanbul. The first botanist who knew coffee was the Italian Prospero Alpina, who came into contact with it in Egypt in 1584. Coffee spread to Europe in the 17th century. Worth mentioning is the creation of a coffee house in Venice in 1645 and in Paris in 1670. The Dutch established coffee plantations in Ceylon as early as 1699, later in India and Java. The French brought coffee across the Atlantic Ocean to Mexico and Brazil.

In its original conditions, the coffee plant grows to a height of up to 3m and occurs in mountains at an altitude of 1500 - 1800 meters above sea level, where there is a greater difference between day and night temperatures (important for its growth is the formation of dew), thanks to which the plant is more resistant to pests that attack it. Coffee became popularized in the 19th century. Today, the largest coffee exporters are Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and India.

How to Grow a Coffee Plant?

It is an evergreen shrub that grows to a height of 2-3m. We grow it from seeds (coffee plant seeds) in regular horticultural substrate (regular substrate) with the addition of peat in shady locations, but the soil must not contain calcium. Before sowing, we stratify the seeds in a microten bag in the refrigerator and sow them into the soil to a depth of 1.5-2cm. They will germinate within five weeks. We can also grow it from cuttings of mature plants by removing the lower leaves from the cuttings and reducing the upper ones by half to two-thirds. Then we insert them into prepared substrate, maintain constant moisture and temperature of 24-26°C. Smaller plants should be watered less because their roots are very sensitive to rot.

We water mature plants when the leaves begin to wilt by pouring settled water into the saucer under the pot and after 30 minutes, we pour out the remaining water. During the growing season, when the plant produces flowers and fruits, more generous watering is necessary. The ideal temperature for its growth is around 24°C. In winter (from October), we place it in locations with temperatures of 15-18°C and reduce watering. Drying of coffee plant leaves is caused by inadequate and irregular watering, location with direct sunlight exposure and drafts. During the growing season, we fertilize it once every two weeks. We pinch the coffee plant, which promotes its branching and densification. During summer, the plant can be placed on a balcony in a shady location protected from wind.

Did you know that green coffee affects weight loss?

We repot young plants every year in spring into fresh soil, older plants at intervals of several years. In the year when we don't repot the plant, it is necessary to replace at least the top layer of soil. When repotting, we select pot sizes as follows: we place small plants in a pot 2cm larger than the original and older plants in a pot 3cm larger than the original. The coffee plant is susceptible to fungal and bacterial diseases similar to other citrus plants; we mechanically remove affected parts.

Only in the third year after planting, when the plant reaches a height of 1m, does the coffee tree begin to bear fruit. Around the sixth year, it starts to produce average yields. If the plant has ideal conditions, it can have both flowers and fruits at the same time. Its flowers are white with a jasmine scent and bloom in July-August. The fruits are cherry-red in color, the size of a gooseberry, and ripen after 6-9 months - usually in the winter months. They contain 2 seeds that press against each other. Red fruits are picked from the plant, and their skin is edible. The seeds are first dried, then roasted in a pan over low heat for 20 minutes. This is how we prepare our daily delicious invigorating beverage. The coffee tree can live up to 30 years under optimal conditions.

The fruits of Arabica coffee have the highest quality coffee beans in the world. The coffee tree will create a beautiful green decorative shrub with red fruits in your home.