The coffee plant is a woody perennial evergreen dicotyledon that belongs to the Rubiaceae family. Two main species of coffee are cultivated today. Coffea canephora , known as Robusta coffee, is more robust than the Arabica plants, but produces an inferior tasting beverage with a higher caffeine content. The coffee plant can grow to heights of 10 meters if not pruned, but producing countries will maintain the coffee at a height reasonable for easy harvesting. Three to four years after the coffee is planted sweetly smelling flowers grow in clusters in the axils of the leaves.
Fruit is produced only in the new tissue.
The Arabica species is self-pollinating, whereas the Robusta species depends on cross pollination. About 6-8 weeks after the flowers are fertilized, cell division occurs and the fruit remains as a pin head for a period that is dependent upon the climate. The ovaries will then develop into drupes in a rapid growth period that takes about 15 weeks after flowering. During this time the integument takes on the shape of the final bean. After the rapid growth period the integument and parchment are fully grown and will not increase in size.