How to Grow Coffee Tree - Plant Care & Tips

By NorwichGardener Team / 2025

Coffee tree is a plant that produces the coffee bean. It is native to Ethiopia, and was first brewed in the Middle East. The coffee plant is a shrub that can grow to 10 feet tall, and the coffee bean is the seed of the coffee plant. The coffee tree is self-pollinating, and the coffee beans mature in about 9 months.

How to Grow Coffee Tree - Plant Care & Tips

Alternative name

Perennial Shrub
Fruit Tree
Flowering Plant
Shade Plant
Tropical Plant

Basic info

The coffee tree is a small evergreen tree that grows to about 10 meters in height.
The coffee tree is native to the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The coffee tree produces small white flowers that turn into red berries (coffee cherries) which contain the coffee beans.
Coffee trees take about 3-5 years to mature and can produce coffee beans for up to 60 years.
Coffee beans must be harvested by hand and are usually grown in coffee plantations.
It takes approximately 2,000 coffee beans to make one pound of coffee.
Coffee beans are roasted before they are ground and used to make coffee.
Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world after oil.
More than 500 billion cups of coffee are consumed each year.
Brazil is the largest producer of coffee in the world.

Related plant:
Coffee Plant Care

How to Grow

For coffee tree, first step is plant the tree.
Wait for the tree to grow.
Once the tree has grown, water it regularly.
Fertilize the tree every few months.
When the tree produces flowers, pollinate them.
Once the flowers have been pollinated, the coffee beans will begin to form.
Allow the coffee beans to ripen on the tree.
Once the beans are ripe, pick them.
The coffee beans can now be roasted.
After roasting, the coffee beans can be ground and brewed to make coffee.

Related plant:
Kentucky Coffee Tree

The Soil

About soil condition, acidic soils are best for coffee trees, with a pH of around 5.5. The ideal coffee tree soil is deep, loose, and well-drained, with plenty of organic matter. Coffee trees will also do well in sandy or loamy soils, as long as they are not too heavy or clumpy.

Light requirement

Not too different with other plants, coffee trees need sunlight to grow. They need about four to six hours of sunlight each day. The ideal location for a coffee tree is in a sunny spot that has some protection from the wind.

Ideal Temperature

The temperature condition that coffee trees need is fairly warm. They will grow best in an environment that has an average temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. However, they can also tolerate temperatures that are a bit lower or higher than this. If the temperature gets too cold, the coffee trees will not produce as much fruit.

Ideal Humidity

Ideal humidity condition for this plant is between 60% to 70%. The leaves of coffee tree will turn yellow and fall off if the humidity is too low. On the other hand, the plant will become susceptible to fungal diseases if the humidity is too high.

Fertilizing

Discussing fertilizer, this type of plant food is important to coffee trees because it helps the plant to produce more flowers and fruit. It also helps to keep the roots healthy and to prevent them from being damaged by fungi or other parasites.

Plant Pruning

Pruning coffee trees is essential to keeping them healthy and productive. It helps remove diseased or damaged leaves and branches, and also encourages new growth. While coffee trees can be pruned at any time of year, the best time to do it is in the late winter or early spring.

About Propagating

Propagation is often done by taking cuttings from the desired plant. These cuttings are then placed in a growing medium and kept moist until they develop roots and can be transplanted. Coffee trees can also be propagated by seed, but this is a slower process and does not always produce plants that are true to the parent plant.

Growth Speed

Usually, the plant growth rate is tied to the health of the tree. A coffee tree that is properly cared for will typically grow between 3 and 5 feet per year. However, if the tree is not receiving the proper care, it may only grow 1 or 2 feet per year.

Basic Problems

Common problems for this kind of plant are: 1. Stem borers 2. Whiteflies 3. Aphids 4. Rust 5. Scales Stem borers are the most common problem for coffee trees. They bore into the trunk and branches of the tree, causing the tree to weaken and eventually die. Whiteflies are another common problem. They suck the sap from the leaves, causing them to turn yellow and eventually drop off. Aphids and rust are also problems for coffee trees. Aphids feed on the sap of the leaves, while rust causes the leaves to turn brown and eventually drop off. Scales are also a problem for coffee trees. They feed on the sap of the leaves, causing the leaves to turn yellow and eventually drop off.

Growing Tips

Do not forget to water your coffee tree regularly. The coffee tree needs a lot of water, so make sure to water it at least once a week.
Place your coffee tree in a bright spot. The coffee tree needs a lot of light to grow properly.
Do not fertilize your coffee tree too often. The coffee tree does not need a lot of fertilizer, so once a month should be enough.
Prune your coffee tree regularly. This will help the coffee tree to grow properly and stay healthy.
Do not harvest the coffee beans too early. The coffee beans need to be ripe before you harvest them.
Do not store the coffee beans in a humid environment. The coffee beans need to be stored in a dry and cool place.
Do not roast the coffee beans too dark. The coffee beans should not be roasted too dark, as this will make them bitter.
Do not grind