Often confused by name alone, this tree is a member of the bean family and is native to North American forests. ID That Tree: Kentucky Coffee Tree
: While they can live over 100 years, they are most productive between ages 7 and 20. coffee tree
To help you draft a feature on "coffee trees," it is important to distinguish between the tropical plant that gives us our morning brew and the Kentucky Coffee Tree , a North American native known for its unique botanical features. The Tropical Icon: Coffea Arabica Often confused by name alone, this tree is
: Coffee "beans" are actually seeds found inside small fruits called cherries. They ripen from green to yellow and finally a deep red when ready for harvest. The Tropical Icon: Coffea Arabica : Coffee "beans"
: They require high-altitude, humid forests with rich soil—conditions found in famous growing regions like Ethiopia (their place of origin) and Kona, Hawaii .
Most of the world's coffee comes from the Coffea genus, primarily Arabica and Robusta . These are tropical evergreen shrubs that thrive in the global "Coffee Belt" near the equator .
The Wild Relative: Kentucky Coffee Tree ( Gymnocladus dioicus )