Coffea canephora
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64403362b1518053872413 |
| Scientific name | Coffea canephora |
| Authority | Pierre ex A.Froehner |
| First published in | Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 1: 237 (1897) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Across the Indian Ocean archipelago of Madagascar, in several East African highlands, and in parts of Southeast Asia and Arabia, the leaves of Coffea canephora have long been brewed as beverages known locally as “café aux feuilles,” “coffee-leaf tea,” and “qahwa al‑waraq.” Each tradition uses dried young leaves, sometimes lightly blanched or rolled before drying, to make a golden‑amber infusion that is mild, slightly nutty, and lightly astringent (Heeger, 1956; Nib BIO, 1995; Som-pairun et al., 2019; Zullies Ikawati et al., 2022). The practice developed around the simple desire to utilize the leaf crop that might otherwise be pruned during maintenance of the coffee trees, and in some places it continues as a daily beverage and welcome to guests.
To prepare a mild leaf infusion, place about 4–6 g of dried young coffee leaves in a tea infuser or teapot, pour over 200–250 mL of just‑boiled water, cover, and steep for 5–7 minutes, then remove the leaves. The drink is light and aromatic without added sugar, but honey or dates may be added in some local recipes (Som-pairun et al., 2019; Bissegger, 1989). Do not exceed roughly 6–8 g of leaves per day and avoid heavy use if you are sensitive to caffeine, are pregnant, or take medications known to interact with caffeine or with anticoagulants (Heeger, 1956).
The leaf beverage’s appeal is driven by well‑documented constituents of C. canephora: caffeine, the purine alkaloid trigonelline, the phenolic mangiferin, chlorogenic acids (notably 5‑CQA), diterpenes such as kahweol and cafestol, and standard vitamins (C and B vitamins). In a few regions the mature leaf is occasionally used externally as a poultice for minor skin irritations; the practice is short‑lived and employs clean, unbroken skin (Heeger, 1956). Today interest in these leaves as a low‑caffeine tea continues, and several commercial products are sold as instant “coffee‑leaf tea,” with active research into their antioxidant and metabolic effects (Heeger, 1956; Som-pairun et al., 2019; Zullies Ikawati et al., 2022).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!**Common products:**
The primary commercial product of *Coffea canephora* is the coffee bean, processed primarily as **instant coffee** and used as a **blending component** in ground coffee blends. Its high **caffeine content** (typically 2.0-4.5% on a dry basis) contributes significantly to the characteristic strength and bitterness of these products. Robusta coffee (trade classification for *C. canephora*) accounts for approximately 35-40% of global coffee production.
**Food and beverages (non-medicinal):**
* **Instant Coffee Production:** The processed, roasted and ground beans are the primary raw material for instant coffee manufacturing, where they undergo extraction, concentration, and dehydration. *C. canephora* is favored for instant coffee due to its high soluble solids content and strong flavor profile.
* **Ground Coffee Blending:** Beans are a key component in many ground coffee blends, particularly for espresso blends, to enhance crema formation (due to higher soluble solids and caffeine content) and provide strength and body. Standard processing involves roasting, grinding, and brewing using standard methods (e.g., espresso, drip). The plant part used is the **seed (bean)**.
**Fragrance and cosmetics:**
* **Cosmetic Ingredients:** Caffeine extracted from *C. canephora* beans is a recognized cosmetic ingredient (INCI: *Coffea Canephora Seed Extract*). Its documented uses leverage its stimulant properties and ability to temporarily increase microcirculation, primarily in **anti-cellulite creams, eye contour products, and hair growth stimulant formulas**. *C. arabica* caffeine is more common, but *C. canephora* is a significant source. Applications are typically topical and non-medicinal.
**Sustainability and sourcing:**
* **Agronomic Practices:** *C. canephora* is generally considered more resilient to pests, diseases (like Coffee Leaf Rust - *Hemileia vastatrix*), and variable climate conditions compared to *C. arabica*, making it potentially more sustainable in challenging environments. Standard agronomic practices focus on shade-grown systems for environmental benefits, though extensive sun cultivation also occurs.
* **Environmental Challenges:** Expansion of robusta cultivation can contribute to deforestation if not managed sustainably. Issues include habitat conversion, biodiversity loss, and potential soil degradation if intensive farming practices are used without proper management.
* **Social/Economic:** Robusta farming often occurs on smallholdings. Sustainable sourcing initiatives often focus on certification schemes (e.g., Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance) to address farmer livelihoods, environmental protection, and traceability.
* **Waste Utilization:** Significant effort focuses on valorizing processing waste (husks, pulp, silver skin, spent grounds). Primary uses are compost/fertilizer and animal feed. Emerging research explores uses like **bioplastics, biochar, and bioactive compound extraction**, though commercial adoption of these novel uses varies.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Coffea arabica var. stuhlmannii | A.Froehner | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 25: 263. 1898 |
| Coffea bukobensis | Zimmerm. | Pflanzer 4: 326 (1908) |
| Coffea canephora var. crassifolia | Lautent ex De Wild. | Miss. Ém. Laurent 1: 333 1906 |
| Coffea canephora var. gossweileri | A.Chev. | Rev. Bot. Appl. Agric. Trop. 19: 339. 1939 |
| Coffea canephora var. hiernii | Pierre ex De Wild. | Caféiers 20. 1901 |
| Coffea canephora var. hinaultii | Pierre ex De Wild. | Caféiers 21. 1901 |
| Coffea canephora var. kouilouensis | De Wild. | Caféiers 21. 1901 |
| Coffea canephora var. laurentii | (De Wild.) A.Chev. | Encycl. Biol. 22: t. 29. 1942 |
| Coffea canephora var. maclaudii | (A.Chev.) A.Chev. | Encycl. Biol. 22: t. 34 1942 |
| Coffea canephora var. muniensis | Pierre ex De Wild. | Caféiers 23. 1901 |
| Coffea canephora var. oligoneura | Pierre ex De Wild. | Caféiers 23. 1901 |
| Coffea canephora var. opaca | Pierre ex De Wild. | Agric. Prat. Pays Chauds 4: 117. 1904 |
| Coffea canephora f. sankuruensis | De Wild. | Miss. Ém. Laurent 1: 330 1906 |
| Coffea canephora var. sankuruensis | (De Wild.) De Wild. | Ann. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, Suppl. 3, 1: 369 1910 |
| Coffea canephora var. stuhlmannii | (A.Froehner) A.Chev. | Encycl. Biol. 22: t. 35 1942 |
| Coffea canephora var. trillesii | De Wild. | Caféiers 24. 1901 |
| Coffea canephora var. ugandae | (Cramer) A.Chev. | Encycl. Biol. 22: t. 36. 1942 |
| Coffea canephora var. welwitschii | (Pierre ex De Wild.) A.Chev. | Rev. Bot. Appl. Agric. Trop. 19: 336. 1939 |
| Coffea canephora var. wildemanii | Pierre ex De Wild. | Caféiers 25. 1901 |
| Coffea laurentii | De Wild. | Compt. Rend. Congr. Intern. Bot. 1900: 234 (1900) |
| Coffea maclaudi | Cheval. | Compt. Rend. Hebd. Séances Acad. Sci. 140: 1474 (1905) |
| Coffea robusta | L.Linden | Cat. Pl. Econ. : 64 (1900) |
| Coffea ugandae | Cramer | Meded. Dept. Landb. Ned.-Indië 11: 680 (1913) |
| Coffea welwitschii | Pierre ex De Wild. | Caféiers : 19 (1901) |
| Coffea canephora var. robusta | (L.Linden) A.Chev. | Caf. Globe 3: 191 1947 |
| Coffea quillon | Wester | Philipp. Agric. Rev. 9: 121 (1916) |
| Coffea canephora var. oka | A.Chev. | Encycl. Biol. 22: t. 33 (1942) |
| Coffea canephora var. nganda | Haarer | Modern Coffee Prod. : 19 (1962) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | coffea robusta |
| English | robusta |
| English | robusta coffee |
| Spanish | coffea laurentii |
| Spanish | coffea bukobensis |
| Spanish | coffea arabica var. stuhlmannii |
| Spanish | coffea quillon |
| Spanish | coffea robusta |
| Spanish | coffea ugandae |
| Spanish | coffea welwitschii |
| Arabic | بن قصبي |
| Catalan | coffea robusta |
| Catalan | cafè robusta |
| Catalan | cafè robust |
| Czech | kávovník statný |
| Czech | robusta |
| Czech | kávovník robusta |
| German | coffea robusta |
| German | robusta |
| German | robusta-kaffee |
| Esperanto | fortika kofeo |
| Estonian | coffea robusta |
| Estonian | kongo kohvipuu |
| Persian | قهوه کانفورا |
| Finnish | robusta |
| Finnish | kongonkahvi |
| Finnish | coffea robusta |
| French | caféier robusta |
| French | robusta |
| Hebrew | רובוסטה |
| Hebrew | קפה רובוסטה |
| Upper Sorbian | robusta-kofejowc |
| Upper Sorbian | coffea robusta |
| Hungarian | robuszta kávé |
| Hungarian | coffea robusta |
| Indonesian | robusta |
| Indonesian | coffea robusta |
| Italian | coffea robusta |
| Japanese | ロブスタコーヒーノキ |
| jv | robusta |
| jv | kopi robusta |
| Korean | 로부스타 커피 |
| Lithuanian | robusta |
| Malayalam | coffea robusta |
| Malayalam | റോബസ്റ്റ കാപ്പി |
| Malayalam | robusta coffee |
| Norwegian Bokmål | coffea robusta |
| Norwegian Bokmål | robusta |
| Norwegian Bokmål | robustakaffe |
| Norwegian Bokmål | robusta-kaffe |
| Polish | robusta |
| Polish | kawa kongijska |
| Polish | coffea robusta |
| Punjab | روبسٹا کافی |
| Portuguese | conillon |
| Romanian | coffea robusta |
| Russian | coffea robusta |
| Russian | Кофе конголезский |
| Russian | Робуста |
| Russian | Кофе канефора |
| Russian | Кофейное дерево конголезское |
| Russian | Кофе зонтичный |
| Russian | Кофе робуста |
| Russian | канефора |
| Slovak | coffea robusta |
| Slovak | kávovník robusta |
| Slovenian | robusta |
| Swedish | robustakaffe |
| Swedish | coffea robusta |
| Swedish | robusta |
| Swedish | kongokaffe |
| Thai | กาแฟโรบัสตา |
| Ukrainian | робуста |
| Ukrainian | coffea robusta |
| Vietnamese | cà phê vối |
| Vietnamese | cà phê robusta |
| Chinese | 咖啡 |
| Chinese | 中果咖啡 |
| Chinese | 羅布斯塔種 |
| Chinese | 卡尼弗拉種咖啡 |
| Chinese | 中粒种咖啡 |
| Chinese | 中粒咖啡 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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East Tropical Africa
- Tanzania
- Uganda
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Northeast Tropical Africa
- Sudan
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South Tropical Africa
- Angola
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West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Liberia
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Togo
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Cabinda
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Congo
- Gabon
- Zaïre
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East Tropical Africa
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indo-China
- Thailand
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Malesia
- Borneo
- Jawa
- Sulawesi
- Sumatera
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Papuasia
- New Guinea
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Indo-China
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Pacific click to expand
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Northwestern Pacific
- Caroline Islands
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South-central Pacific
- Society Islands
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Southwestern Pacific
- New Caledonia
- Vanuatu
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Northwestern Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil North
- Brazil Southeast
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Caribbean
- Jamaica
- Leeward Islands
- Trinidad-Tobago
- Windward Islands
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Central America
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Nicaragua
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Western South America
- Ecuador
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Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000910571 |
| UNII | 1OA7YNS5G4 |
| USDA Plants | COCA39 |
| Tropicos | 27900017 |
| INPN | 629390 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:747068-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-45464 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 104739 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 49390 |
| IUCN Red List | 18290186 |
| IPNI | 747068-1 |
| iNaturalist | 64345 |
| GBIF | 2895528 |
| Freebase | /m/06czk8 |
| EPPO | COFCA |
| EOL | 1109728 |
| US Library of Congress | sh2021006939 |
| USDA GRIN | 11092 |
| Wikipedia | Coffea_canephora |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCA_036785865.1 | ASM3678586v1 | Chromosome | Coffee Consortium | 2024-02-23 | 40 | 641.23 Mb |
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
| Title | Authors | Publication | Released | IDs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application of Developmental Regulators for Enhancing Plant Regeneration and Genetic Transformation | Xu P, Zhong Y, Xu A, Liu B, Zhang Y, Zhao A, Yang X, Ming M, Cao F, Fu F | Plants (Basel) | 04-May-2024 |
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| Coffee Extract as a Natural Antioxidant in Fresh Pork Sausage—A Model Approach | Fetsch VT, Kalschne DL, Canan C, Flores ÉL, Viegas MC, Peiter GC, Zara RF, Amaral JS, Corso MP | Foods | 03-May-2024 |
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| Unleashing the promise of emerging nanomaterials as a sustainable platform to mitigate antimicrobial resistance | Rahman S, Sadaf S, Hoque ME, Mishra A, Mubarak NM, Malafaia G, Singh J | RSC Adv | 01-May-2024 |
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| Risk assessment of Retithrips syriacus for the EU | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Gonthier P, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, van der Werf W, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Bezerra Lima ÉF, Makowski D, Crotta M, Gobbi A, Golic D, Maiorano A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Rossi E, Terzidou A, Vicent Civera A | EFSA J | 29-Apr-2024 |
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| Integrated analysis of transcriptome and miRNAome reveals the heat stress response of Pinellia ternata seedlings | Bo C, Liu M, You Q, Liu X, Zhu Y, Duan Y, Wang D, Xue T, Xue J | BMC Genomics | 23-Apr-2024 |
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| The genome and population genomics of allopolyploid Coffea arabica reveal the diversification history of modern coffee cultivars | Salojärvi J, Rambani A, Yu Z, Guyot R, Strickler S, Lepelley M, Wang C, Rajaraman S, Rastas P, Zheng C, Muñoz DS, Meidanis J, Paschoal AR, Bawin Y, Krabbenhoft TJ, Wang ZQ, Fleck SJ, Aussel R, Bellanger L, Charpagne A, Fournier C, Kassam M, Lefebvre G, Métairon S, Moine D, Rigoreau M, Stolte J, Hamon P, Couturon E, Tranchant-Dubreuil C, Mukherjee M, Lan T, Engelhardt J, Stadler P, Correia De Lemos SM, Suzuki SI, Sumirat U, Wai CM, Dauchot N, Orozco-Arias S, Garavito A, Kiwuka C, Musoli P, Nalukenge A, Guichoux E, Reinout H, Smit M, Carretero-Paulet L, Filho OG, Braghini MT, Padilha L, Sera GH, Ruttink T, Henry R, Marraccini P, Van de Peer Y, Andrade A, Domingues D, Giuliano G, Mueller L, Pereira LF, Plaisance S, Poncet V, Rombauts S, Sankoff D, Albert VA, Crouzillat D, de Kochko A, Descombes P | Nat Genet | 15-Apr-2024 |
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| Edge based metric dimension of various coffee compounds | Ahmad A, Koam AN, Azeem M, Masmali I, Alharbi R | PLoS One | 11-Apr-2024 |
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| Telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of Oldenlandia diffusa | Gao Y, Xu D, Hu Z | DNA Res | 11-Apr-2024 |
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| Berberine Effects in Pre-Fibrotic Stages of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease—Clinical and Pre-Clinical Overview and Systematic Review of the Literature | Ionita-Radu F, Patoni C, Nancoff AS, Marin FS, Gaman L, Bucurica A, Socol C, Jinga M, Dutu M, Bucurica S | Int J Mol Sci | 10-Apr-2024 |
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| A chromosome-level genome reveals genome evolution and molecular basis of anthraquinone biosynthesis in Rheum palmatum | Zhang T, Zhou L, Pu Y, Tang Y, Liu J, Yang L, Zhou T, Feng L, Wang X | BMC Plant Biol | 10-Apr-2024 |
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| Response of Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) parasitized by the nematode Metaparasitylenchus hypothenemi Poinar (Tylenchida: Allantonematidae) to different colors of light | Simota-Ruiz M, Castillo-Vera A | J Nematol | 08-Apr-2024 |
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| Clovamide and Its Derivatives—Bioactive Components of Theobroma cacao and Other Plants in the Context of Human Health | Kolodziejczyk-Czepas J | Foods | 06-Apr-2024 |
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| Assessing scale-dependency of climate risks in coffee-based agroforestry systems | Byrareddy VM, Kath J, Kouadio L, Mushtaq S, Geethalakshmi V | Sci Rep | 05-Apr-2024 |
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| The Impact of the Drying Process on the Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Dried Ripe Coffee Cherry Pulp Soluble Powder | López-Parra MB, Gómez-Domínguez I, Iriondo-DeHond M, Villamediana Merino E, Sánchez-Martín V, Mendiola JA, Iriondo-DeHond A, del Castillo MD | Foods | 05-Apr-2024 |
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| Complementary and alternative medicines and liver disease | Philips CA, Theruvath AH, Ravindran R, Augustine P | Hepatol Commun | 03-Apr-2024 |
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |