Coffee Variety Glossary
(Click to expand for information about a variety or cultivar’s origins and genetic makeup)
Abyssinia
Abyssinia, Sumatra
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace
Location of Origin: Ethiopia
Origin Story: Wild or native Arabica type discovered in SW Ethiopia, brought to Indonesia (Java) in 1928
Acaia
Derivation: Mutation from Mundo Novo
Location of Origin: Brazil
Origin Story: Natural mutation of Mundo Novo (Bourbon x Typica cross)
Agaro
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace
Location of Origin: Ethiopia
Origin Story: Arabica type selected in 1953–1954 by FAO (U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization)
Anacafe 14
Derivation: Catimor x Pacamara
Location of Origin: Guatemala
Origin Story: Naturally occurring cross (1980) Chiquimula department; commercially released by ANACAFE (2014)
Andong Sari
Derivation: Variedad Colombia x Caturra x Timor Hybrid
Location of Origin: Indonesia
Origin Story: Dwarf hybrid released by the Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute (ICCRI)
Barbuk Sudan
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace
Location of Origin: Sudan; Ethiopia
Origin Story: Discovered in a 1942 collection on Boma Plateau, southeastern Sudan/Ethiopian highlands
Batian
Batian, Chania Estate, Kenya
Derivation: Ruiru 11 x SL-28, SL-34, Rume Sudan, N39, K7, SL4, Timor Hybrid
Location of Origin: Kenya
Origin Story: Kenyan Coffee Research Institute bred and released in 2010
Bedessa
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace
Location of Origin: Ethiopia
Origin Story: Grows in western/southwestern Ethiopia
Bergundal
Derivation: Typica related
Location of Origin: Indonesia
Origin Story: Discovered in Bener Meriah, Aceh, Sumatra; named by the Dutch for “berg und dal,” or “mountain and valley”
Blue Mountain
Derivation: Typica related
Location of Origin: Jamaica
Origin Story: Clippings of Typica plant brought to Jamaica (1728–1730)
Bourbon
Pink Bourbon
Orange Bourbon, Finca Las Nubes
Yellow Bourbon
Red Bourbon, Finca Las Nubes, El Salvador
Derivation: Typica related
Location of Origin: Île Bourbon
Origin Story: Naturally occurring Typica mutation; selected from Ethiopian coffee cultivated in Yemen transplanted to Bourbon Island (now Réunion) in 18c
Cassiopeia
Derivation: Caturra x Ethiopian Landrace (ET41)
Location of Origin: Various
Origin Story: An F1 hybrid cross created in collaboration with CIRAD, PROMECAFE, and CATIE to increase genetic diversity
Castillo®
Castillo, Colombia
Derivation: F10 Variedad Colombia x Caturra
Location of Origin: Colombia, general
Origin Story: Developed by Cenicafe to replace the no-longer-leaf-rust-resistant Variedad Colombia; released 2005
Castillo El Rosario
Derivation: F10 Variedad Colombia x Caturra
Location of Origin: Antioquia, Colombia
Origin Story: The various Castillo hybrids were designed by Cenicafe to preserve regional distinctions
Castillo El Tambo
Derivation: F10 Variedad Colombia x Caturra
Location of Origin: Colombia, various
Origin Story: The various Castillo hybrids were designed by Cenicafe to preserve regional distinctions
Castillo La Trinidad
Derivation: F10 Variedad Colombia x Caturra
Location of Origin: Tolima, Colombia
Origin Story: The various Castillo hybrids were designed by Cenicafe to preserve regional distinctions
Castillo Naranjal
Derivation: F10 Variedad Colombia x Caturra
Location of Origin: Caldas, Colombia
Origin Story: The various Castillo hybrids were designed by Cenicafe to preserve regional distinctions
Castillo Paraguaicito
Derivation: F10 Variedad Colombia x Caturra
Location of Origin: Quindio, Colombia
Origin Story: The various Castillo hybrids were designed by Cenicafe to preserve regional distinctions
Castillo Pueblo Bello
Derivation: F10 Variedad Colombia x Caturra
Location of Origin: Cesar, Colombia
Origin Story: The various Castillo hybrids were designed by Cenicafe to preserve regional distinctions
Castillo Santa Barbara
Derivation: F10 Variedad Colombia x Caturra
Location of Origin: Cundinamarca, Colombia
Origin Story: The various Castillo hybrids were designed by Cenicafe to preserve regional distinctions
Catimor
Derivation: Caturra x Timor Hybrid
Location of Origin: Portugal; Brazil
Origin Story: Bred by CIFC, Portugal (1959); tested in Angola and Brazil; released in Brazil (1970). “Catimor” also refers to a family of similar hybrids
Catisic
Derivation: Catimor type (Caturra x Timor Hybrid)
Location of Origin: El Salvador
Origin Story: Cross of Caturra and Timor Hybrid developed by PROMECAFE/Instituto Salvadoreño de Investigaciones del Café (ISIC)
Catuai
Catuai, Nicaragua
Derivation: Mundo Novo x Caturra
Location of Origin: Brazil
Origin Story: Cross of Caturra and Mundo Novo made by Instituto Agronômico de Campinas, Brazil; released in 1972
Caturra
Caturra
Derivation: Bourbon related
Location of Origin: Brazil
Origin Story: Naturally occurring dwarf Bourbon mutation discovered in Minas Gerais, Brazil (1915–1918) and later selected for cultivation (1937)
Cauvery
Derivation: Catimor type (Caturra x Timor Hybrid)
Location of Origin: India
Origin Story: Cross of Caturra and Timor Hybrid developed by Central Coffee Research Institute (2007)
Centroamericano
Derivation: Sarchimor T5296 x Rume Sudan
Location of Origin: Various
Origin Story: Bred by CIRAD, PROMECAFE, CATIE for genetic diversity improvement in Central America; released in 2010
Chandragiri
Derivation: Sarchimor type (Villa Sarchi x Timor Hybrid)
Location of Origin: India
Origin Story: Semi-dwarf hybrid of Villa Sarchi and Timor Hybrid (1975–1981) released as F3 by Central Coffee Research Institute (2007)
Cioccie/Choche
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace
Location of Origin: Ethiopia
Origin Story: Selected by Pierre G. Sylvain on an FAO collection in 1955; introduced to India
Colombia
Colombia
Derivation: Catimor type (Caturra x Timor Hybrid)
Location of Origin: Colombia
Origin Story: Developed as a disease-resistant, productive hybrid by Cenicafe (1968–1982); released 1985. One of the earliest Catimors
Cuscatleco
Derivation: Sarchimor type (Villa Sarchi x Timor Hybrid)
Location of Origin: El Salvador
Origin Story: Pedigree selection of a Sarchimor (Villa Sarchi x Timor Hybrid) by Fundación Salvadoreña Para Investigaciones en Café (PROCAFE)
Dega
Dega, Ethiopia
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace
Location of Origin: Ethiopia
Origin Story: This high-altitude landrace variety can be found in the Gedeo zone of Ethiopia
Devamachy
Derivation: Hybrid of C. Canephora x C. Arabica
Location of Origin: India
Origin Story: Possibly naturally occurring hybrid cross of C. Arabica and C. Canephora discovered in India in 1930
Evaluna
Derivation: Hybrid cross of Catimor type (Naryelis) x Ethiopian Landrace ET06
Location of Origin: Various
Origin Story: An F1 hybrid cross created in collaboration with CIRAD, PROMECAFE, and CATIE to increase genetic diversity (2010)
French Mission
French Mission, Chania Estate, Kenya
French Mission, Chania Estate, Kenya
Derivation: Bourbon related
Location of Origin: Kenya
Origin Story: Coffees transplanted to Kenya from Île Bourbon in late 19c by French missionaries the Holy Ghost Fathers (1895)
Garnica
Garnica
Derivation: Mundo Novo x Caturra
Location of Origin: Mexico
Origin Story: Cross of Mundo Novo and Caturra varieties by Instituto Mexicano del Café (1952)
Gesha (1931)
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace
Location of Origin: Ethiopia; Tanzania
Origin Story: Landrace type collected by British (1936); sent to CATIE via Tanzania (1953); subsequently planted in Panama
Gesha (1956)
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace
Location of Origin: Ethiopia; Malawi
Origin Story: Landrace variety brought to Malawi from CATIE (1956)
H3
Derivation: Caturra x Ethiopian Landrace E531
Location of Origin: Various
Origin Story: An F1 hybrid cross created in collaboration with CIRAD, PROMECAFE, and CATIE to increase genetic diversity; is leaf-rust susceptible
Harrar-Rwanda
Derivation: Typica related
Location of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Origin Story: Likely an Ethiopian variety transplanted to DRC; introduced to Rwanda (1956); commercially released (2003)
IAPAR59
Derivation: Sarchimor type (Villa Sarchi x Timor Hybrid)
Location of Origin: Brazil
Origin Story: Pedigree selection made by Instituto Agronômico do Paraná, Brazil (1993)
ICAFE 95
Derivation: Catimor type (Caturra x Timor Hybrid)
Location of Origin: Costa Rica
Origin Story: Hybrid cross of Caturra and Timor Hybrid developed by Instituto del Café de Costa Rica (ICAFE); also known as Costa Rica 95
Icatú
Derivation: Bourbon x C. Canephora
Location of Origin: Brazil
Origin Story: Hybrid cross of Bourbon with C. Canephora, backcrossed to Mundo Novo; developed by Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (1993)
IHCAFE 90
Derivation: Catimor type (Caturra x Timor Hybrid)
Location of Origin: Honduras
Origin Story: Hybrid cross of Caturra with Timor Hybrid developed by the Instituto Hondureño del Café (IHCAFE)
Jackson
Derivation: Bourbon related
Location of Origin: India
Origin Story: Rust-resistant type discovered by a farmer named Jackson in Mysore, India (early 20c); seedlings brought to Africa (1920s)
Java
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace related
Location of Origin: Ethiopia; Cameroon
Origin Story: Lineage from Ethiopian landrace; transplanted to Cameroon for selection in mid 20c; introduced to Costa Rica (1991)
Jember S795
Derivation: Kent x S288
Location of Origin: India; Indonesia
Origin Story: Cross of Typica-related Kent and a natural Arabica-Liberica hybrid; released in 1940s in India and Indonesia
K7
K7, Chania Estate, Kenya
Derivation: Bourbon related
Location of Origin: Kenya
Origin Story: From a selection of French Mission (Bourbon type) coffees identified by Scott Labs (1936)
Kent
Derivation: Typica related
Location of Origin: India
Origin Story: Selection of Typica found on the Kent family estate in 1920
Kona
Derivation: Typica related
Location of Origin: Hawaii (U.S.A.)
Origin Story: Clippings of Typica plant from Guatemala brought to Hawaii by Kunigoro Yokoyama (1899)
KP 423
Derivation: Typica related
Location of Origin: India; Tanzania
Origin Story: Selection of Kent made in India; transplanted to Tanzania (1940s)
Kudhumi/Kurume
Kudhumi Kurume, Ethiopia
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace
Location of Origin: Ethiopia
Origin Story: Smaller-size landrace variety found in Ethiopia
Laurina/Bourbon Pointu
Laurina, Finca Las Nubes, Colombia
Derivation: Bourbon related
Location of Origin: Île Bourbon
Origin Story: Dwarf Bourbon selected in 1940s on Île Bourbon; has a considerably lower caffeine content than most C. Arabica
Lempira
Derivation: Catimor type (Caturra x Timor Hybrid)
Location of Origin: Honduras
Origin Story: Selection of pedigree made by Instituto Hondureño del Café (IHCAFE) in Honduras; genetically close to Costa Rica 95
Maracaturra
Maracaturra, Nicaragua
Derivation: Maragogype x Caturra
Location of Origin: Brazil
Origin Story: Purported to be a naturally occurring cross of Maragogype and Caturra discovered in Brazil (19c)
Maragogype
Maragogype, Santuario Sul, BRazil
Derivation: Typica related
Location of Origin: Brazil
Origin Story: Naturally occuring Typica mutation discovered in Brazil (1870); has large leaves, fruit, seeds, and internodes
Marsellesa
Marsellesa, Mexico
Derivation: Sarchimor type (Villa Sarchi x Timor Hybrid)
Location of Origin: Nicaragua
Origin Story: A hybrid cross between Villa Sarchi and Timor Hybrid selected for pedigree by ECOM-CIRAD in Nicaragua
Mayaguez
Derivation: Bourbon related
Location of Origin: Puerto Rico
Origin Story: Selected from USDA collection in Puerto Rico; introduced to Democratic Republic of the Congo (1930s) and Rwanda (1950s)
Mibirizi
Derivation: Typica and/or Bourbon related
Location of Origin: Guatemala; Rwanda
Origin Story: Introduced from Guatemala to Rwanda (1910s); distributed to Mibirizi in western Rwanda (1920s). Possible Typica-Bourbon cross
Milenio
Derivation: Sarchimor x Rume Sudan
Location of Origin: Various
Origin Story: An F1 hybrid cross created in collaboration with CIRAD, PROMECAFE, and CATIE to increase genetic diversity
Miqe
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace
Location of Origin: Ethiopia
Origin Story: Medium-size landrace variety found in Guji
Mokka
Derivation: Bourbon related
Location of Origin: Yemen; Brazil; Hawaii
Origin Story: A naturally occurring dwarf mutation of Bourbon related to Yemen accession; introduced to Hawaii from Brazil (1950s–1960s)
Mundo Novo
Derivation: Typica x Bourbon
Location of Origin: Brazil
Origin Story: Naturally occurring cross of Typica and Bourbon discovered in Brazil (1943)
Mundo Maya
Derivation: Sarchimor x Ethiopian Landrace ET01
Location of Origin: Nicaragua
Origin Story: An F1 hybrid selection released by ECOM-CIRAD in Nicaragua in attempt to increase genetic diversity
Nayarita
Derivation: Hybrid cross of Catimor type (Naryelis) x Ethiopian Landrace ET26
Location of Origin: Nicaragua
Origin Story: An F1 hybrid selection released by ECOM-CIRAD in Nicaragua in attempt to increase genetic diversity
Nyasaland
Derivation: Typica related
Location of Origin: Jamaica; Malawi
Origin Story: Typica selection introduced to Malawi (fka Nyasaland) from Jamaica (1878); transplanted to Uganda (1910)
Obata Rojo
Obata, Nicaragua
Derivation: Sarchimor type (Villa Sarchi x Timor Hybrid)
Location of Origin: Brazil
Origin Story: Pedigree selection made by Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC); released 2000
Oro Azteca
Derivation: Catimor type (Caturra x Timor Hybrid)
Location of Origin: Mexico
Origin Story: Pedigree selection made by Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas, y Pecuarias (INIFAP) (1996–1997)
Pacamara
Derivation: Pacas x Maragogype
Location of Origin: El Salvador
Origin Story: Cross between Pacas (dwarf Bourbon type) and Maragogype (Typica family); Salvadoran Institute of Coffee Research (ISIC)
Pacas
Pacas, El Salvador
Derivation: Bourbon related
Location of Origin: El Salvador
Origin Story: Naturally occurring dwarf Bourbon mutation discovered in El Salvador (1949)
Pache
Pache, Huehuetenango, Guatemala
Derivation: Typica related
Location of Origin: Guatemala
Origin Story: Natural occurring dwarf mutation of Bourbon discovered on a single farm in Guatemala (1949)
Pache Colis
Derivation: Caturra x Pache
Location of Origin: Guatemala
Origin Story: Cross of Caturra and Pache
Parainema
Derivation: Sarchimor type (Villa Sarchi x Timor Hybrid)
Location of Origin: Honduras
Origin Story: Pedigree selection of a Sarchimor type made by Instituto Hondureño del Café
Pop3303/21
Derivation: Typica related (Jamaica Blue Mountain derivative)
Location of Origin: Rwanda
Origin Story: Selected on a single farm in western Rwanda (1972) that was purportedly planted with Blue Mountain Typica–type trees
RAB C15
Derivation: Hybrid cross of Kent and C. Canephora type S.274
Location of Origin: India; Rwanda
Origin Story: Selection of Indian Sln.6, a hybrid cross of Kent and S.274 (C. Canephora); transplanted to Rwanda (2015)
Rambung
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace
Location of Origin: Ethiopia; Indonesia
Origin Story: One of several Ethiopian landrace varieties transplanted to Indonesia (1928)
Rasuna
Derivation: Hybrid cross of Typica and Catimor
Location of Origin: Indonesia
Origin Story: Small-size hybrid cross of Typica with a Catimor
Robusta
Robusta, Ecuador
Robusta, Ecuador
Derivation: Variety of C. Canephora
Location of Origin: Western Africa, various
Origin Story: Common variety of C. Canephora
Ruiru 11
Ruiru 11, Chania Estate, Kenya
Derivation: Complex hybrid cross
Location of Origin: Kenya
Origin Story: Hybrid cross of types including N39, SL-28, SL-34, Bourbon, Rume Sudan, Timor Hybrid, and more (1985)
Rume Sudan
Rume Sudan, Las Nubes, Colombia
Rume Sudan, Las Nubes, Colombia
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace
Location of Origin: Ethiopia
Origin Story: Discovered in a 1942 collection on Boma Plateau, southeastern Sudan/Ethiopian highlands
S288
Derivation: Naturally occurring hybrid of C. Arabica x C. Liberica
Location of Origin: India
Origin Story: Selection made by Central Coffee Research Institute (1937)
Sarchimor (T5296)
Sarchimor, Aguilera Brothers, Costa Rica
Derivation: Villa Sarchi x Timor Hybrid
Location of Origin: Costa Rica
Origin Story: Developed by Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) (1960s)
Sawa
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace
Location of Origin: Ethiopia
Origin Story: Small-size landrace variety found in Guji and Borena
Selection 4/Sln.4
Derivation: Agaro x Tafari Kela x Cioccie
Location of Origin: India
Origin Story: A cross developed by Central Coffee Research Institute (1960s)
Selection 6/Sln.6
Derivation: Hybrid cross of Kent x C. Canephora
Location of Origin: India
Origin Story: An interspecific hybrid cross developed by Central Coffee Research Institute (1970s)
Selection 7.3/Sln.7.3
Derivation: Hybrid cross of San Ramon x S.795 x Agaro x Timor Hybrid
Location of Origin: India
Origin Story: A hybrid cross developed by Central Coffee Research Institute (1970s)
Selection 9/Sln.9/S.2790
Derivation: Hybrid cross of Tafari Kela x Timor Hybrid
Location of Origin: India
Origin Story: A hybrid cross developed by Central Coffee Research Institute (1970s)
Selection 10/Sln.10
Derivation: Hybrid cross of (Caturra x Cioccie) x (Caturra x S.795)
Location of Origin: India
Origin Story: A cross developed by Central Coffee Research Institute
Semperflorens
Derivation: Bourbon related
Location of Origin: Brazil
Origin Story: A Bourbon mutation with multiple flowering seasons (1934)
Sidikalang
Derivation: Typica related
Location of Origin: Indonesia
Origin Story: A Typica mutation found in North Sumatra
Sidra
Derivation: Typica- and Bourbon-related
Location of Origin: Ecuador
Origin Story: A cross-breed of Red Bourbon and Typica
SL-14
SL-14, Chania Estate, Kenya
Derivation: Typica related
Location of Origin: Kenya
Origin Story: Selected by Scott Laboratories (1936) from a single Drought Resistant II tree
SL-28
SL-28, Santuario Sul, Brazil
Derivation: Bourbon related
Location of Origin: Kenya
Origin Story: Selected by Scott Laboratories (1935–1939) from a line of Tanganyika Drought Resistant I trees; possible heritage to Yemen
SL-34
Derivation: Typica related
Location of Origin: Kenya
Origin Story: Selected by Scott Laboratories (1935–1939) from a tree on a single farm in Kabete
Starmaya
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace x Marsellesa
Location of Origin: Nicaragua
Origin Story: An F1 hybrid cross created by CIRAD-ECOM from a male-sterile C. Arabica plant with a Sarchimor type (2001)
T8667
Derivation: Catimor type (Caturra x Timor Hybrid)
Location of Origin: Various
Origin Story: Collaboratively developed hybrid cross of Caturra and Timor Hybrid by PROMECAFE in Central America (1980s)
Tafari Kela
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace
Location of Origin: Ethiopia
Origin Story: Ethiopian landrace variety collected from Mizan Tafari (1953)
Tanganyika D.R. I
Derivation: Bourbon related
Location of Origin: Tanzania
Origin Story: D.R.: “Drought Resistant.” Bourbon-related variety selected in Tanzania for its tolerance to drought (1931)
Tekisic
Derivation: Bourbon related
Location of Origin: El Salvador
Origin Story: Bourbon mutation selected by the Instituto Salvadoreño de Investigaciones del Café (ISIC) (1949); released after mass selection (1977)
Timor Hybrid
Timor Hybrid, Sumatra
Timor Hybrid, Sumatra
Derivation: Interspecific hybrid of C. Arabica x C. Canephora
Location of Origin: Timor
Origin Story: Naturally occurring interspecific hybrid of C. Arabica and C. Canephora discovered on Timor in 1920
Tupi
Derivation: Sarchimor type (Villa Sarchi x Catimor)
Location of Origin: Brazil
Origin Story: Commercially developed hybrid cross of Villa Sarchi and a Catimor type
Typica
Typica, Hacienda La Papaya, Ecuador
Derivation: Derivative of Yemeni cultivar transplanted from Ethiopia
Location of Origin: Java via Yemen
Origin Story: C. Arabica root variety; mutation of one or more selections from Ethiopia in Yemen; brought to Java by the Dutch (17c)
USDA/USDA762
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace
Location of Origin: Ethiopia; Indonesia
Origin Story: Selected from a collection of varieties by Jean Lejeune (1955); transplanted to Indonesia
Venecia
Derivation: Bourbon related
Location of Origin: Costa Rica
Origin Story: Naturally occurring Bourbon mutation; pedigree selection made by Institituto del Café de Costa Rica (ICAFE)
Villalobos
Derivation: Typica related
Location of Origin: Costa Rica
Origin Story: Naturally occurring dwarf Typica mutation
Villa Sarchi
Villa Sarchi, Cerro San Luis, Costa Rica
Derivation: Bourbon related
Location of Origin: Costa Rica
Origin Story: Naturally occurring dwarf Bourbon mutation discovered in Sarchi, Costa Rica (1950–60s)
Walichu/Wolisho
Wolisho Walichu, Ethiopia
Wolisho Walichu, Ethiopia
Derivation: Ethiopian Landrace
Location of Origin: Ethiopia
Origin Story: A well-known landrace variety with tall canopy and large fruit, commonly found in the Gedeo zone