Arabic coffee tree (Coffea arabica)

Other names: Coffee bush from Arabia

The Arabic coffee tree, scientifically called Coffea arabica, is also known as the Arabia coffee bush. This plant is native to the northeastern region of Africa, specifically the areas of present-day Ethiopia and South Sudan. Historically, it was mainly cultivated in the Arabian Peninsula, hence one of its names. The Arabic coffee plant is a major crop with a global impact, accounting for up to 60 % of the world's total coffee production and thus forming the basis of a huge industry.

The fruit of the Arabic coffee tree, often referred to as coffee beans, is essential for the production of various types of coffee. However, the beans are first fermented, dried, scraped, roasted and then ground to form coffee powder. It is most commonly used to make filter coffee, espresso, cappuccino, latte and many other variations of the popular beverage. However, coffee is also used as an ingredient in some types of alcohol, such as liqueurs. Less well-known are the uses of coffee beans in cosmetics, where it is used, for example, in peeling creams or as a colouring agent in the food industry. Roasting coffee beans also produces coffee grounds, which can be used as a fertiliser or pest repellent. Due to its versatility, the Arabica coffee plant is therefore involved in the production of a wide range of products and beverages.