Arabica coffee accounts for 75-80% of the world's coffee production. It is renowned for its superior flavor, although it contains less caffeine than Robusta. Arabica plants are more delicate and require specific growing conditions, typically thriving at higher altitudes with cooler climates. In contrast, Robusta coffee plants are more robust and resilient, making them easier to cultivate in a wider range of environments. However, Robusta produces a beverage with a more bitter taste and higher caffeine content.
The coffee plant can grow to heights of 10 meters if not pruned. However, producing countries maintain the coffee at a height reasonable for easy harvesting, usually between 2-3 meters. Arabica plants in the wild can grow between 7-12 meters tall and have an open branching system. The leaves are opposite, simple elliptic-ovate to oblong, 6-12 cm long and 4-8 cm broad, glossy dark green. The flowers are produced in axillary clusters, each flower white, and 1-1.5 cm in diameter. The fruit, known as a coffee cherry, is a berry 10-15 mm long, maturing from bright red to purple, and contains two seeds (the coffee 'bean').
Beyond its popular use as a beverage, coffee has been used in traditional medicine for various purposes. It is reported to have analgesic, anaphrodisiac, anorexic, antidotal, cardiotonic, CNS-stimulant, counterirritant, diuretic, hypnotic, lactagogue, nervine, and stimulant properties. Coffee is a folk remedy for ailments such as asthma, atropine-poisoning, fever, flu, headache, jaundice, malaria, migraine, narcosis, nephrosis, opium-poisoning, sores, and vertigo.
Recent studies have also highlighted coffee's potential health benefits. Moderate coffee consumption has been linked to a lower risk of several chronic diseases, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Its antioxidant properties are believed to contribute to these health benefits, making coffee not only a beloved beverage but also a potential ally in maintaining health.
The Coffee Plant: Cultivation, Varieties, and Health Benefits
