Coffee is surprisingly easy to grow at home. In warmer climates (zones 7–11), you can grow your coffee outside. In cooler climates, you’ll need to bring them in before the first signs of frost (coffee plants are not frost-tolerant).
The more difficult part of growing coffee is getting it to produce fruits. These plants are picky and require ideal conditions and about two years of growth before they'll begin producing the coffee cherries.
Follow this guide to grow coffee at home and start producing your own fresh coffee for free.
What Type of Coffee Plant to Grow (Based on Where You Live)
There are more than 120 species of Coffea — but just three are preferred for brewing coffee. Other species are primarily used as decorative plants or avoided in gardens.
Coffea arabica is the most common species, but is also the most picky. It’s easy to grow this plant at home, but don’t expect it to produce any coffee unless you live in an equatorial zone at least 1500 meters above sea level.
Coffea robusta is much easier to grow at lower altitudes and does well outside the equator. In the US, robusta plants will thrive best in zones 10 and 11. Robusta can survive some frost and can be cultivated outside down to zone 9.
Coffea liberica is another species with a flavor similar to robusta. These plants form large enough to be considered “trees” and thrive in zones 10 and 11. Users report this plant will continue to grow in zones 8 or 9 but will not likely produce any coffee in these areas.
Related: Robusta vs Arabica Coffee: Main Differences Explained
Where to Buy Coffee Seeds
You can’t use coffee beans to sprout new plants because they’ve been sterilized during roasting. You’ll need to buy fresh, green coffee seeds to produce new plants.
You can buy coffee seeds online or from garden centers. Some nurseries sell seedlings or small plants (usually in the tropical plant section).
Planting Your Coffee Seeds
Giving your seed or coffee seedling the attention it needs when planting kicks off your growing journey to a great start. Correctly planting your coffee plant is the foundation of growing a healthy crop able to thrive and produce cherries.
How to Grow Coffee Plants (4 Steps)
Once you've found some seeds, you'll need to let them sprout. Your seedlings will be very vulnerable for the first six months, so it's best to keep them in a seed-sprouting humidity dome (found at most gardening centers) to keep the humidity high and protect them from drying out.
When the seedlings become more established, transplant them into a permanent home in the house or garden.
Here’s how to germinate coffee seeds in 4 steps:
Step 1: Germinate Seeds
Coffee seed germination can take 2 to 6 months, depending on the freshness of your seeds. To start, soak your seeds for 24 hours in water before moving to the next step.
Step 2: Plant in Wet Sand
Coffee is picky — it needs to be wet, but not TOO wet. Wet sand is the best sprouting medium because it ensures the seeds remain moist, but easily drains away any standing water.
Remove the soaking seeds from the water and plant them about 1.25 cm deep in the sandy soil. You can use pure gardening sand or a 50/50 mixture of loam and sand.
As germination continues, the coffee plant can either be left alone or moved into a more permanent location in nitrogen-rich, low-acidity soil.
Step 3: Water Frequently Until Your Seedling is Established
Coffee sprouts contain enough nutrition and energy in the seed to fuel several months of growth. Keep your seeds moist, but avoid any standing water. Avoid using fertilizers until the second set of leaves begins to form. Start with a light dose of fertilizer (about 10% of the recommended dose) and increase gradually as the plant grows in size.
Alternatively, you can enrich the soil with some manure or vermicompost to add nutrients to the soil and fuel further growth.
Step 4: Transplanting To A Larger Pot
Once the plant grows 3 or 4 new sets of leaves, it will be ready to transplant into a larger container with more nutrient-dense soil.
Coffee prefers fertile, low-acidity soil with good drainage and organic matter. Investing in quality compost is wise when planting to improve your chances of a quality harvest. A study spanning from 2015-2020 in Brazil found the addition of limestone to increase yield substantially [1], signifying the effects of planting your coffee correctly from the soil up.
Keep the area clear around your coffee, as weeds can introduce pests and steal nutrients from the coffee plant. Locate the plant in a shady spot with indirect sunlight where it can shelter while absorbing the sun’s energy.
When is the Best Season to Plant Coffee Outside?
Transplanting your coffee plant outside is stressful to the plant. The key to success is to take as many steps as possible to mitigate this stress. This means planting at the right time of year to avoid the shock of intense heat, cold, or wind.
In most climate zones in which coffee will grow, it’s best to wait until spring or fall to plant your coffee, as temperatures aren’t intensely hot or cold. This gives the roots time to spread and anchor before temperatures fluctuate. If you’re in a humid environment, your plant will feel right at home.
Imitating a tropical, humid environment can be difficult, but this is easier when growing your coffee plant indoors and using LED lights to replicate sunlight. Growing indoors also limits the risk of pests and disease, though coffee plants can grow big, so be prepared to prune your plant every few months.
Caring For Your Coffee Plant
Coffee care generally requires keeping the temperature above freezing, maintaining optimal soil moisture, keeping the bugs at bay, and ensuring your plant gets adequate sunlight during the day.
Water, Lighting, & Temperature
Coffee plants don’t like to stay sodden, so avoid watering every day. Instead, water around once a week, and don’t let the soil dry out and become crispy — keep things moist at all times.
For lighting, coffee plants enjoy shady spots with indirect sunlight so they can work their magic from the sun’s energy but not get roasted in intense heat.
Your coffee plant will thrive best in temperatures between 64-70°F (18-21°C), but they can tolerate warmer conditions, too. Temperatures that are too low will stunt growth, and frost can kill your plants surprisingly quickly. If the weather is too hot, the soil will dry out quickly, leading to dehydration and death. This can be prevented with frequent watering.
Nutrition & Fertilizing
Adding fertilizer to soil increases its nutritional value, providing food and nutrients to plants as they grow. Coffee requires a host of micro and macro-nutrients for various processes, as shown in the table below:
|
Mineral/ Element |
Chemical Symbol |
Main Use by the Plant |
|
Nitrogen |
N |
Plant growth; proteins; enzymes; hormones; photosynthesis |
|
Sulfur |
S |
Amino acids and proteins; chlorophyll; disease resistance; seed production |
|
Phosphorus |
P |
Energy compounds; root development; ripening; flowering |
|
Potassium |
K |
Fruit quality, water balance, disease resistance |
|
Calcium |
Ca |
Cell walls; root and leaf development; fruit ripening and quality |
|
Magnesium |
Mg |
Chlorophyll (green color); seed germination |
|
Copper |
Cu |
Chlorophyll; protein formation |
|
Zinc |
Zn |
Hormones/enzymes; plant height |
|
Manganese |
Mn |
Photosynthesis; enzymes |
|
Iron |
Fe |
Photosynthesis |
|
Boron |
B |
Development/growth of new shoots and roots; flowering, fruit set and development |
|
Molybdenum |
Mo |
Nitrogen metabolism |
|
Chloride |
Cl |
Photosynthesis; gas exchange; water balance |
Source: FAO.org (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
Mature manure, organic fertilizer, and compost contribute to a healthy coffee plant by steadily providing nutrients and improving the soil. When adding store-bought fertilizer to your coffee plant, opt for an organic product and limit chemicals where possible to maintain a natural environment.
Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizer includes materials such as manure and slurry to seep nutrients into the soil. As indicated in the name, organic fertilizer doesn’t contain additives or chemicals.
Natural fertilizers include worm compost, bone meal, blood meal, fish emulsion, and rock phosphate.
Inorganic Fertilizers (Synthetic)
Inorganic fertilizer is made from chemicals and compounds with a high nutrient profile. Chemical fertilizers may have a bigger impact on the plant than natural alternatives as they are made from chemicals. They might not, however, provide a reliable long-term solution to the health of native soil.
When growing coffee, a balanced fertilizer is best. Opt for a 20-20-20 or equivalent.
When to Fertilize
Fertilize coffee plants 2–3 times during the active season where growth is visible. If using synthetic fertilizer designed to mix with water, you may have to fertilizer a few extra times (4–6 times per growing season).
As these plants need a variety of nutrients, it’s wise to use quality fertilizers. Organic fertilizer is generally preferred to keep in line with nature and limit the introduction of chemicals into the house or garden.
Dealing With Pests & Diseases
Part of caring for your plant and learning how to grow coffee beans is the responsibility of controlling pests and diseases.
Coffee plants don’t like to share their space, but a few critters and diseases may try to take over your plant.
Common coffee pests and their solution include:
- Green Coffee Scale — Mineral oil spray can be used to wash affected areas.
- Aphids — Apply neem oil or diluted laundry soap.
- Stemborer — Less likely when the plant is in shady conditions or at a higher altitude. Burn affected trees or areas with borers inside.
- Coffee Berry Borer — Keep the area clean and free from old cherries, rotting plant matter, etc. Use pheromone or ethanol-methanol-baited traps.
- Mealybug — Ladybugs naturally eat mealybugs, but chlorpyrifos can also be used.
- Leaf Miner — This is a minor issue; use neem oil or natural pesticide in spring.
- Termites — Termites only survive with dead wood around, so keep the area free of rotting wood. Spray permethrin on the base of the coffee plant.
- Damping-off — Avoid overwatering, use fresh soil, and don’t plant seeds too close together. Benlate or captan on the soil should help.
- Cercospora Leaf Spot — Avoid overwatering, keep plants shaded, and correctly apply fertilizer.
- Cercospora — Maintain plants with 50% cover and use copper sprays if necessary.
- Coffee Leaf Rust — Use monthly copper sprays, plant catimor selections, and plant arabica in good shade.
- Sooty Mold — Reduce levels of coffee scale, aphids, and mealybugs by using recommended control procedures.
- Anthracnose — Maintain ideal coffee growing conditions with adequate shade, light, and nutrition.
- Overbearing/Dieback — Work on an immediate solution, maintaining plant health as well as possible. Use balanced fertilizer and keep coffee shaded. Managing pests and diseases will help you on the way to a successful coffee harvest. Maintaining your plant and the immediate environment will limit pests from the offset. Using appropriate fertilizer and continuously caring for your plant makes spotting sickness and bugs easy.
How & When to Harvest Coffee Beans
It will take months or years before your coffee plants start producing fresh coffee cherries — so you’ll need to remain patient.
Ripe coffee cherries are typically bright red or yellow depending on the coffee type. When the cherries become a darker brown-red, they are overripe, so getting the harvest window right is essential. This tends to happen around 8 or 9 months after the tree flowers.
Picking & Separating
Coffee cherries can be picked by hand and stripped from the fruit using a small mallet, your hands, or specialized machines.
Unless you’ve planted a field of coffee trees, you’ll likely harvest your beans by hand. This gives the most control over the beans you choose to use, as you can discard damaged or unripe fruits and cherish ripe ones.
Drying & Roasting
Once picked, it’s time to process the coffee cherries. Remove the outer layer to expose the beans inside. Release the beans from the shell to dry the fruit ready for processing. There are two processing methods:
Dry Processing
Dry processing can be completed with only a few tools and is the recommended method if this is your first coffee harvest.
The first stage is to clean and sort the beans, removing any dirt or debris. The beans are set out to dry in the sun. Make sure the beans dry evenly and consistently by mixing them around with your hands to expose all sides of the coffee bean.
Wet Processing
Wet processing starts the same way as dry, with coffee cherries being sorted and cleaned to remove any unwanted parts. Running water can be used, and once cleaned, the cherry pulp is removed, which is generally done by machine.
Fermentation can take 24-36 hours, and once complete, the beans either dry in the sun, in a machine, or both.
Roasting
Before you can start brewing your coffee you’ll need to roast the beans. This can be done with a simple manual roaster, which is placed over the stove and stirred continuously.
Alternatively, you can load your beans onto a baking pan and place them in the oven. Make sure to open it up frequently to stir and check the progress.
For a light roast, take the beans out once they start to develop a golden brown color.
For darker roasts, wait until just after the beans start to display a visible crack.
If the beans start to release some smoke, you’ve reached the limit and need to take them out of the oven to cool immediately.
Brewing Your Homegrown Coffee
Reward the time and effort of growing your own coffee beans by brewing a perfect cup. Make a steaming espresso, creamy latte, or rich cappuccino, knowing you grew, harvested, and prepared every bean yourself.
Choosing the brew style comes down to personal preference. A drip coffee maker or espresso machine guarantees a smooth cup, but a moka pot, French press, AeroPress, and Vietnamese phin filter also make delicious, flavorful coffees.
The French press is a popular option as it produces rich coffee with no filter to trap delicious flavors. It’s also an easy way of guaranteeing all the important compounds and notes make it into your final cup.
Related: Pour-Over vs. French Press vs. Phin
Tips for Grinding & Brewing Your Own Beans
Knowing the best grinder for your brewing method is the ideal way to achieve a successful brew. Blade coffee grinders are cheap and can be used for all grind types, while a flat burr grinder is more expensive but produces uniform coffee grounds. Conical burr grinders maintain key coffee flavors, but they are on the pricier side.
Related: How to Grind Coffee Beans for Full Flavor
FAQs: Growing Coffee at Home
Wondering how coffee beans are grown and if you can produce them at home? Here are some popular FAQs to answer more questions about growing coffee:
1. Can I grow coffee plants indoors?
With the right conditions, coffee plants can thrive outdoors. They need enough nutrients, water, sunlight, and space to grow into healthy, mature plants.
2. How long does it take for a coffee plant to produce beans?
It usually takes around 3-4 years after planting for a coffee plant to produce beans. A coffee plant given the correct care and nutrients should flourish and produce cherries.
3. Do I need multiple plants to produce coffee?
You don’t need multiple plants to produce coffee, but more plants means a bigger coffee bean harvest!
Related: How Much Coffee Should I Use Per Cup?
4. What are the best conditions for a coffee plant?
The best conditions for a coffee plant are bright, indirect light, quality soil, and temperatures between 60-75°F (16-24°C).
5. How often should I water my coffee plant?
Coffee plants enjoy water, but they don't like getting too much. Aim to keep the soil consistently moist but avoid overwatering.
6. When is the best time to harvest coffee cherries?
When coffee cherries become bright red and slightly soft to the touch, it’s time to harvest them!
7. What is the best way to store homegrown coffee beans?
Store homegrown coffee beans in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
8. How do I know if my coffee plant is healthy?
A coffee plant will show vibrant green leaves and steady growth when healthy. If your plant has yellow or drooping leaves, it may be lacking in nutrients, getting too much or too little water.
9. Can I use regular garden soil for my coffee plant?
Regular garden soil isn’t ideal for coffee plants. Using well-draining, slightly acidic soil helps coffee plants grow well.
