Coffee, the world’s most popular morning beverage, has a history that spans back 600,000 years, according to a recent study. Researchers used genes from coffee plants around the globe to construct a family tree for the most widely consumed type of coffee, known as Coffea arabica or simply “arabica.”
The study, which aimed to better understand coffee plants to protect them from pests and climate change, revealed that arabica coffee emerged through natural crossbreeding of two other coffee species about 600,000 years ago, long before human intervention.
“In other words, prior to any intervention from man,” said Victor Albert, a biologist at the University at Buffalo.
These wild coffee plants originated in Ethiopia but were first roasted and brewed primarily in Yemen starting in the 1400s. The global spread of coffee is often attributed to an Indian monk named Baba Budan, who allegedly smuggled seven raw coffee beans from Yemen to his homeland in the 1600s.
Arabica coffee, known for its smooth and relatively sweet flavor, accounts for 60% to 70% of the global coffee market and is used by major brands like Starbucks, Tim Horton’s, and Dunkin’. The remaining market share belongs to robusta, a stronger and more bitter coffee made from one of arabica’s parent species, Coffea canephora.
The researchers studied the genomes of C. canephora, another parent species called Coffea eugenioides, and more than 30 different arabica plants, including a sample from the 1700s used by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus to name the plant.
The study, published in the journal Nature Genetics, received contributions by researchers from Nestlé, which owns several coffee brands. The findings highlight the vulnerability of arabica coffee plants to diseases like coffee leaf rust, which cause billions of dollars in losses annually. By exploring the genetic makeup of a rust-resistant arabica variety, the researchers identified sections of its genetic code that could help protect the plant.
This study not only clarifies the origins of arabica coffee but also provides valuable insights into safeguarding the crop for the future, ensuring that coffee lovers can continue to enjoy their morning cup for years to come.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.