African coffee family tree

Africa is the birthplace of coffee, where the coffee family tree began. In fact, Ethiopia remains one of the few places where coffee grows naturally in the wild. Its high elevations, fertile soils, and stable climate create ideal conditions for exceptional flavour.

The Coffee Belt—where coffee thrives

Coffee grows within a narrow band around the equator known as the Coffee Belt. This region lies between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and includes parts of Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

124 species —but We rely on just two

There are 124 known coffee species growing wild within the Coffee Belt. Many have not been seen in over 100 years. Yet the global coffee industry depends almost entirely on just two:

• Coffea arabica (Arabica)
• Coffea canephora (Robusta)

Arabica accounts for most speciality coffee. However, it is now classified as endangered. Deforestation, climate change, pests, and disease threaten its survival.

Protecting coffee’s future means supporting origin diversity and agricultural innovation. The varieties grown in Africa play a critical role in that future.

The coffee family tree — how arabica was born

Arabica and Robusta are not distant relatives. In fact, Robusta is one of Arabica’s parent species.
Scientists discovered that Robusta crossed naturally with another species, Coffea euginoides. This hybridisation produced Arabica. The new species was first identified in Ethiopia, where it still grows wild today.

From Arabica, many African varieties emerged through natural mutation and careful cultivation. Farmers select plants for flavour, resilience, and yield. Over time, this has created a diverse and complex coffee family tree.

Like wine, flavour depends on more than variety alone. Soil, altitude, climate, farming methods, and post-harvest processing all shape the final cup.